African Markets Daily

· The AU aims to use G20 seat as an opportunity to call on rich nations to honour their promises to tackle climate change.

· South Africa plans to prioritize its economic relationship with Kenya to boost trade and investment

· South African public service workers get ready to strike

· IMF approves $433 million financial aid for Kenya

· Tanzania’s president will present an $18 billion plan to build renewable power generation in Southern Africa at talks in Egypt.

· Petra Diamonds has suspended operations at its Williamson mine in Tanzania.

· Pilot strike spurs grounds Kenya Airways.

Ghana to and ask IMF for help for its economy. South Africa extends daily power cuts for a week

· Ghana - will hold formal talks with the International Monetary Fund on a support package. Until now, Ghana, had refused to seek IMF support to rescue an economy crippled by the pandemic, rampant inflation and a depreciating currency, despite analysts warning that; it is close to a debt crisis.

· South Africa’s state power utility, Eskom, says it would extend daily power cuts all through the week as generation capacity shortage continues.

· Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday lifted economic and financial sanctions imposed on Mali, after its military rulers proposed a 24-month transition to democracy and published a new electoral law.

- A subsidiary of Zimbabwe’s state-owned power company has signed a $110 million syndicated loan with continental trade finance bank AfreximBank.

- South African retailer, Pepkor, majority owned by Steinhoff, said headline earnings jumped to ZAR5 billion ($320.1 million), up from ZAR2.3 billion a year ago.

- South Africa’s  National Institute For Communicable Diseases warns of an uptick in SA's cases as fourth wave looms

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- Nigeria’s Communications Commission says MTN Nigeria’s application to renew its operating license for another ten years is still undergoing regulatory processing. The Nigerian Communications Commission  that reports that MTN Nigeria’s application had already been granted are incorrect.

- Egypt’s president has vowed to raise the price of government-subsidized bread. It would be the latest in a series of austerity measures taken by his administration in recent years to overhaul the country’s economy. President Abdel Fattah El-sissi offered no further details on the amount or timing of the price increase. He said the increase would help his government cover the cost of meals provided to the country’s school children. This is the first time the Egyptian government revisits the price of bread issue since 1977 when then president Anwar Sadat reversed a price increase in the face of riots. Bread is currently sold at 0.05 egyptian pounds ($0.0032)

Ghana is seeking parliamentary approval to borrow as much as $1.7 billion in order to accelerate oil and gas exploration by acquiring and developing assets. The investment push comes after Exxon Mobil pulled out of an offshore prospect in May.

South African manufacturing activity shrank at its fastest rate in 14 months in July, weighed down by tighter coronavirus lockdown restrictions and civil unrest.

The Bank of Botswana’s (bob) latest business expectations survey reveals that companies  are upbeat about economic activity over the next year compared with the previous survey’s results. Companies now expect that real GDP will increase by 2.9% in 2021 compared with their previous expectation of 2.2%. Despite the overall improvement in the outlook, it is still significantly less optimistic than the forecasts of the ministry of finance and economic development which expected growth of +8.8%,  and IMF forecast +8.3%.  

South Africa’s GDP contracted by 7% in 2020. The contraction is in line with market expectations. Debmarine Namibia  reported a 13% drop in production to 1.125 million carats last year as demand slumped during the covid-19 pandemic.  Zambia’s cabinet approved a economic stimulus package financed through a covid-19 bond in an effort to alleviate the pandemic’s impact.

Zimbabwe lifts its main lending rate to 40%. from 35% previously in a bid to reduce excess liquidity and control speculation in its foreign currency market. Nigeria’s economy unexpectedly came out of a recession in the fourth quarter as restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus were eased.

The  World Bank lays out loan conditions to South Africa’s government  in order to access the $2-billion loan. S&P Global Ratings affirms Mozambique’s foreign currency rating to stable. Nigeria’s manufacturing sector contracts for sixth consecutive month.

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority collected $701 million for the third quarter, surpassing its own targets after coronavirus restrictions were eased. African Union chairperson calls for more funding onto fight Covid 19. Angola’s economy contracts. 

US fintech, Stripe purchases Paystack, a Nigerian payments start-up, as it looks to grow its footprint across the African continent.  South African President Cyril Ramaphosa tabled a plan to revive the economy, with job creation, increased infrastructure investment and enhanced energy security. At least 2.9 million simcards were wiped off Uganda’s telecom  networks.

Zambia’s eurobonds slumped for a second day as the country as the country heads for a default amid a showdown with bondholders over its request for an interest payment holiday. Bank of Uganda said foreign banks lending to local companies do not fall under its jurisdiction, exonerating itself from blame after a high court ruled that a loan arranged by a Kenyan bank was illegal.  De beers sold the most diamonds since the coronavirus crisis brought the industry to a halt, after price cuts and recovering demand lured buyers back.

 Mozambique published its proposed model for a sovereign wealth fund. Botswana supermarket chain, Choppies are suing former auditors,  PwC for $40 million for not signing off on the company’s 2018 accounts.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari 2021 Budget has been condemned by many Nigerians after over N128 billion was earmarked for the national assembly. Vodacom has been caught up in a row with Lesotho’s regulators over alleged weak corporate governance. Land Bank seeks R10-billion more in state support.

Sudan’s red seaports reopened after about three days of protests. Kenya’s first fertiliser manufacturing plant is set to open in Nakuru by end of the year. South African unions strike over job losses, an inadequate public transport system, corruption and state spending curbs.

Nigeria to deliver 2021 to the national assembly on Thursday. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has extended an emergency loan of $102 million for Malawi to plug its fiscal deficit.

Chevron Nigeria to cut 25% of its workforce. Central Banks of Kenya says there is no shilling manipulation. SA and Kenya’s PMI hit new levels

· South Africa’s foreign direct investment inflows fell to R17.4billion in the second quarter from R29 billion in the first quarter.

· Nigeria has suspended a controversial electricity tariff hike that has stoked tensions in the country as part of a deal to ward off a general strike by unions.

· Copper miners in Zambia have frozen $2 billion of planned investments because a royalty tax introduced last year makes the projects unviable.

Namibia's economy contracted by 1.6% in 2019 compared to growth of 1.1% recorded in 2018. South Africa's manufacturing output contracted 10.6%.  South African Airways needs short-term funding from the government by the end of next week to continue operating.

Nigeria's government has asked a Milan court to order ENI and SHell to pay nearly $1.1bn as an immediate advance payment for damages related to alleged corruption deal. Air Namibia is planning to halve the salaries of employees who have been furloughed since march and to freeze filling vacant posts

South Africa has fallen deeper into recession, with gross domestic product (GDP) has dropped by 51% in the second quarter of this year.  Angola's state auditor says some government-owned companies are draining the state. Ethiopia plans to sell a 5% stake in its state-run telecommunications firm to its citizens as part of measures to break up the monopoly.

South Africa’s Unemployment Insurance Fund bosses sacked after auditor general reveals corruption in Covid-19 funding. Mauritius revokes Century Banking licence. Morocco’s trade deficit shrank by 18%

Nigeria’s central bank to grant more licenses for payment service banks but set a minimum capital base of $13 million.  South Africa’s SOEs seek covid-19 bailout funds.

Egypt signed a $2 billion conventional and islamic loan with several international and regional. AngloGold Ashanti and Barrick Gold will sell their effective 80% stake in the Morila Gold mine in Mali, as political crisis grips Mali

Uganda exports highest amount of coffee in almost 30 years. Angola unveiled a 2020-2025 energy roadmap. Mali’s military junta has allowed ousted president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita to return to his residence.

Harmony is allowed to buy AngloGold Ashanti’s South African mining assets. Botswana won’t be able to renew a deal with De Beers. Nigeria’s GDP to reflect further economic slowdown

Zambia’s central bank governor fired with immediate effect. Nigeria doubles its voting rights in the African Development Bank

Nigeria’s gross revenues rose to 676-Billion naira in July from 653-Billion naira in June due to higher crude oil sales and tax receipts.   Gold Fields reported a four-fold jump in half-year earnings, benefiting from a surge in the price of the precious metal.  Interim headline earnings per share jumped by 300% compared to the previous period. Standard Gank half-year profits dropped by 43%.

Anglogold Ashanti, Hummingbird Resources and Cora Gold are some of the mining companies operating as normal Mali while also monitoring coup.   MTN Group names Ralph Mupita as the new CEO replacing Rob Shuter.

Ghana’s fiscal deficit is projected to narrow from 11.4% of GDP in 2020 to 9.4% in 2021. The Central Bank of Democratic Republic of Congo has raised the main interest rate to 18.5% from 7.5%. Zimbabwe’s inflation was 837.53% year-on-year in July compared to 737.26% the previous month. Tunisia’s tourism-dependent economy shrank 21.6% in the second quarter of 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis.

Absa Group first half-year earnings negatively affected by the coronavirus. Bad loans quadrupled, and profits could plunge by up to 97% as a result. Kenya’s biggest lender after-tax profit fell 40% to $70.1 million, while pretax profit also decreased by 28%.

Gold Fields interim profit to shoot up by 300% due to skyrocketing gold prices. Somalia’s first oil and gas licensing round in early 2021, as the country seeks petro dollars to help rebuild its struggling economy.    Telkom Kenya  it is no longer looking to merge its business with the Kenyan unit of India’s Bharti Airtel.

Morocco plans to dissolve some state-owned companies in order to reduce their dependency on a state budget. Democratic Republic of Congo plans to suspend the value-added tax (vat) exemption on mining companies’ imports to bolster state revenue. Congo. South African Breweries to cancel $290 million of planned investments due to revenue losses.

Nigeria to comply with oil output qoutas. Anglo American on a rebound despite Covid-19.  Steinhoff International first-half loss more than doubled as a coronavirus lockdown towards the end of the period weighed on sales.

Namibia approaches IMF for an emergency loan. Kenya keeps repo rate unchanged. Sasol offloads more assets.

Nigeria’s state oil company NNPC has signed a $1.5 billion prepayment deal.  The international monetary fund has approved $4.3 billion in emergency financing for South Africa,  Zimbabwe’s stock market will resume trading  

South African Airways practitioners approve a new plan to safe the airline. Botswana’s economy to shrink by less than expected. Morocco’s informal economy grows.

Tunisia negotiates repayments. Nigeria’s central bank stop lenders from import processing of maize. DRC keeps 2020 forecast unchanged.

South Africa’s manufacturing sector plummets. Uganda’s central bank to cap banks’ rates. Egypt’s inflation surge.

Nigeria suspends chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Massmart slashes jobs. South Sudan cuts interest rates.

Kenya Airways to layoff staff. Morocco’s economy contracts and SASOL gives up license to explore for gas off the Mozambique coast

Morocco’s trade deficit shrank by 12%. SASOL accelerates asset disposals. South Africa’s central branks says the economy's second quarter contracted by 30%

South Africa's recession deepens in first quarter. Kenya's inflation takes a dive.

Moody’s rating agency downgrade SA’s finance institutions. Sudan plans to open for foreign financing and Sasol in talks to sell Mozambique assets.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange plans to appoint board. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange had its best day in a week. Zambia’s will grow by more than 3% in 2020.

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange closes in the red. West African markets remain jittery. Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Bill goes to parliament.

South African stock exchange bucked the international trend to close firmer. Ethiopian Airlines suspended all flights to China. African Development Bank expects Africa’s economy to rise.

South Africa’s Stock exchange closes firmer. Kenya's Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) expects the removal of a cap on commercial lending rates to spur stocks trading. Nigerian Stock Exchange ends the day in the green

Egypt to cancel planned increase in stock exchange duty. MTN Nigeria prepares to list. South African markets jittery over elections.