Ghana Regulator Probes Adviser in Latest Hurdle for Biggest IPO

Ghana Regulator Probes Adviser in Latest Hurdle for Biggest IPO

ACCRA, Ghana, Capital Markets in Africa: Ghana’s largest initial public offering hit another snag as the nation’s regulator put the listing of shares in Agricultural Development Bank Ltd. on hold and began an investigation of the transaction adviser. ADB, which sold 450 million cedis ($116 million) of shares in an IPO that closed in March, filed a complaint last week against Accra-based IC Securities Holdings Ltd., Adu Anane Antwi, director general of the Securities and Exchange Commission, said…

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Bank of America Closes Long Nigeria Trades, Seeing Oil Correction

Bank of America Closes Long Nigeria Trades, Seeing Oil Correction

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Bank of America closes recommendation to short ZAR/RUB, long Russia 2043 Eurobond vs Turkey 2043, seeing crude oil “vulnerable to a correction” in short term, analysts David Hauner and Arko Sen say in note to clients. Also closes long Nigeria 2023s vs Ivory Coast 2024s trade. In long term Bofa remains positive on oil, seeing Brent “consistently above $50” from 4Q in 2017. In addition, Bofa continues to likes…

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Nigeria’s Currency Chaos Deepens as Bets on Devaluation Rise

Nigeria’s Currency Chaos Deepens as Bets on Devaluation Rise

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: As investors increasingly bet the bottom will drop out of the naira and the vice president hints at a devaluation, the man who calls the shots – President Muhammadu Buhari, who has resisted letting the currency weaken since coming to power a year ago, likening it to “murder” — has kept quiet. “I won’t believe it until I see presidential ownership of it,” Alan Cameron, an economist at Exotix Partners…

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South African Rand Slumps as Gordhan Breaks Silence on Talk of Arrest, Firing

South African Rand Slumps as Gordhan Breaks Silence on Talk of Arrest, Firing

Johannesburg, South Africa, Capital Markets in Africa: The rand slumped as much as 2 percent against the dollar and bonds fell as concern intensified around the role of South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, who broke his silence over reports that he may be arrested and dismissed. The rand was 1.7 percent lower at 15.8106 by 12:26 p.m. in Johannesburg, the weakest since March 15 on a closing basis and the worst performance among 31 major and developing…

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Goldman Upgrades Commodity Outlook on Constrained Oil Supplies

Goldman Upgrades Commodity Outlook on Constrained Oil Supplies

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in  Africa: Goldman Sachs Group Inc. upgraded its outlook for commodities for the next three months because of disruptions to oil supply, while staying bearish on industrial metals and gold. Supply constraints should support oil prices, but “physical re-balancing” is incomplete and Goldman remains neutral on commodities for the next 12 months, it said in a report e-mailed Wednesday. The bank is recommending investors buy oil and gas assets in equities and…

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Mozambique Says Can’t Pay $178 Million Debt Interest This Month

Mozambique Says Can’t Pay $178 Million Debt Interest This Month

Maputo, Mozambique, Capital Markets in Africa: Cash-strapped Mozambique won’t be able to honor a debt-interest repayment of $178 million that is due next week for a loan to a state-run company, Finance Minister Adriano Afonso Maleiane told lawmakers. The nation holds total public debt of $11.64 billion, of which $9.85 billion is owed to foreign investors, he said Wednesday in the capital, Maputo. Mozambique Asset Management, whose payment is due on May 23, is negotiating with lenders…

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Deregulation With Price Controls. Precursor to Devaluation?

Deregulation With Price Controls. Precursor to Devaluation?

LAGOS, Nigeria, Capital Markets in Africa: Last week, the Federal Government finally took a step to pseudo-deregulate the downstream sector (the FGN refused to use the word deregulation). This initiative was expected due to the introduction of the price modulation template by the NNPC in January 2016 and also the 2016 budget had no provisions for petrol subsidy payments. Under the new framework, market players are now permitted to source FX independently of the CBN…

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