The Markets | - Part 223

Crude Oil | OPEC Ministers Say Oil Market Moving in Right Direction

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: OPEC ministers gathering in Vienna for the group’s biannual meeting said the oil market is moving in the right direction as a supply glut dissipates. While Saudi Arabia — the architect of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ current policy — remained silent, ministers from the United Arab Emirates and Nigeria signalled that the strategy of letting low prices eradicate surplus production is working. Some of the world’s biggest oil traders…

Buhari Gives Nigeria Central Bank Go-Ahead on Flexible Naira

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LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Faced with an economy nearing recession and inflation at the highest in almost six years, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has backed down on his refusal to allow the naira to weaken. Buhari has given the central bank the go-ahead to introduce a more flexible exchange-rate system even as he remains opposed to devaluation of the naira, said Garba Shehu, his spokesman. “The president is opposed to devaluing the naira, he has said…

South Africa Bonds | Downgrade Threat Drives South African Companies From Bond Market

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Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: As South Africa braces for a credit-rating downgrade, the nation’s companies are finding the bond market an unfriendly place. Corporate bond sales in the second quarter have slumped 15 percent from a year earlier to 20.8 billion rand ($1.32 billion), compared with a 10 percent decline across emerging markets, data compiled by Bloomberg show, as volatility and the threat of a cut to junk deter buyers. South African government 10-year yields —…

Ghana’s Biggest IPO Takes Fresh Twist as Sale Set to Reopen

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ACCRA, Ghana, Capital Markets in Africa: The controversy surrounding Ghana’s log-jammed initial share sale in its biggest agricultural lender has taken a fresh twist. The Agricultural Development Bank Ltd. said it will ask the West African nation’s securities regulator for permission to reopen the sale to give two state-owned entities — which didn’t participate in the initial public offering — an opportunity to buy shares. That may mean a delay of as much as two months before…

Emerging Currencies Drop on Fed Rate Bets as Turkish Stocks Jump

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LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Emerging-market currencies fell with stocks as mounting speculation the Federal Reserve is moving closer to raising interest rates undercut the appeal of riskier assets. Turkish equities and the lira rallied the most among peers as the deputy prime minister survived a cabinet reshuffle. The MSCI Emerging Markets Currency Index weakened 0.2 percent as currencies in Malaysia and South Korea led declines. Russia’s ruble headed for the longest losing streak since December,…

Kenya to Switch KenGen Debt in Region’s Biggest Rights Offer

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Capital Markets in Africa: The Kenyan government will convert 20.2 billion shillings ($200.4 million) of debt owed by the East African nation’s biggest electricity producer into equity as part of a rights offer that’s the largest in the region. The Kenya Electricity Generating Co. Ltd., known as KenGen, is asking investors for 28.8 billion shillings to help finance 720 megawatts of new production capacity over the next four years. Other shareholders apart from the…

Africa’s Busiest Oil Industry Is Running Hard to Stand Still

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Algiers, Algeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Algeria has more drilling rigs than the rest of Africa combined, yet oil production still isn’t recovering after years of decline. It’s little wonder the nation remains one of the most vocal supporters of action to increase prices by curbing output at the OPEC meeting next month. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has been hit hard by the decline in oil prices. Algeria, like other members, is rolling out economic reforms to deal with…

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