Nigeria: Contraction in Household Spending Drags Half Year 2016 GDP by Expenditure

Nigeria: Contraction in Household Spending Drags Half Year 2016 GDP by Expenditure

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) late last month released Q1 and Q2 2016 GDP by expenditure data. Expectedly, the data showed the economy on a sticky wicket, which is in line with observations from supply side computations released for the two-quarters much earlier in the year. However, the statistics give us a better view of structural and cyclical demand-side drivers of the business cycle. For the two quarters,…

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Namibia’s economic growth to slow sharply in 2016 – IMF

Namibia’s economic growth to slow sharply in 2016 – IMF

WINDHOEK (Capital Markets in Africa) – Namibia’s economy growth will slow to 1.6 percent this year from more than 5 percent in 2015 after a contraction in the mining sector and reduced government spending, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday. “Growth is projected to temporarily weaken in 2016 to 1.6 percent as the construction of large mines ends and the government starts consolidating,” the lender in a statement at the end of a visit…

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Zimbabwe halves 2016 growth forecast, budget deficit widens

HARARE (Reuters) – Zimbabwe’s economy will grow by 0.6 percent in 2016, half the previous forecast, but will recover next year, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said in a budget speech on Thursday. Chinamasa said the budget deficit for the 2017 fiscal year was estimated at $400 million, equivalent to 3 percent of GDP, up from 1.1 percent in this year. In addition, Zimbabwe expects its 2016 fiscal budget deficit to widen to $1.18 billion, nearly…

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Nigeria’s President to submit 2017 fiscal budget to legislatures on Dec.14

Nigeria’s President to submit 2017 fiscal budget to legislatures on Dec.14

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari plans to submit next year’s spending plan to lawmakers on Dec. 14, according to a letter read to parliament on Tuesday, with government sources saying the 2017 budget would be 7.2 trillion naira ($23.65 billion). The record spending plan will seek to boost spending to help pull Africa’s largest economy out of its first recession in 25 years, caused largely by low global oil prices….

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South Africa’s Escape From Junk Seen Short-Lived Without GDP Pickup

South Africa’s Escape From Junk Seen Short-Lived Without GDP Pickup

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South Africa’s chances of repeating its escape from a junk credit rating in 2017 are in the balance as focus intensifies on tepid economic growth and simmering political tensions. S&P Global Ratings kept its assessment of the nation’s foreign-currency debt at one level above non-investment grade on Dec. 2. S&P’s affirmation followed a similar move by Fitch Ratings Ltd., while Moody’s Investors Service rates the debt one level higher. The reprieve may…

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Nigeria Third Quarter 2016 Trade Deficit Narrows on Currency Controls and Weaker FX Rate

Nigeria Third Quarter 2016 Trade Deficit Narrows on Currency Controls and Weaker FX Rate

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released Q3: 2016 Foreign Trade Statistics on 1st December 2016. The report showed Q-o-Q improvement in trade deficit which narrowed to the lowest in 2016 as an impact of the weaker exchange rate in the period inflated exports data (reported in Naira) while currency controls pared growth in imports. Trade deficit improved 78.5% Q-o-Q to N104.1bn from N484.2bn in Q2:2016 while Merchandise trade (sum…

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Morocco’s economy is diversified and resilient, IMF Says

Morocco’s economy is diversified and resilient, IMF Says

CASABLANCA (Capital Markets in Africa) – An International Monetary Fund (IMF) staff team led by Nicolas Blancher visited Morocco from November 16 to December 1, 2016, to conduct discussions with the Moroccan authorities on the 2016 Article IV consultation, as well as on the first review under the Precautionary and Liquidity Line (PLL) arrangement approved in July 2016. The discussions focused on increasing the resilience and the potential of the Moroccan economy. At the conclusion…

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