Africa Economics Update South Africa: Downgrade, when it comes, will tell us little new Friday’s re-evaluation of South African FX debt by Fitch & Moody’s suggests the country probably will lose its investment grade status. A downgrade wouldn’t have a significant economic or financial... 28th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Rates on hold, but rhetoric turns hawkish Today’s press conference saw the SARB leave rates on hold but take a notably hawkish tone.Policymakers seem to be rowing back their claim that the tighten cycle is coming to an end. 24th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: CBN holds rates in face of “stagflation” Today’s MPC statement makes it very clear that the CBN is unwilling to hike interest rates in the face of inflation that is more than double the official target. The next move will probably be down. 22nd November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: Non-oil economy recovers a bit as oil woes continue The improved performance of Nigeria’s non-oil sector is a very positive sign. But with oil output likely to fall yet again in Q4, it is too early to call the bottom of Nigeria’s economic downturn. 21st November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Economy flatlined in Q3 September’s retail sales figure was a bit stronger than expected, but activity data for Q3 as a whole suggest that South Africa’s economy may have contracted last quarter. 16th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Political drama will only intensify In this Watch we argue that political tensions surrounding South African President Jacob Zuma will not ease following the embattled president’s victory in yesterday’s vote of no confidence. They will... 11th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Output data point to (another) sharp slowdown South African manufacturing and mining output figures for September support our view that the strong economic growth recorded in Q2 was not sustained into the third quarter. 10th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: Capital inflow figures cause for muted optimism The rise of capital inflows into Nigeria in Q3 suggests that the worst of the problems in the country’s balance of payments are over. But significant strains remain. 7th November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: Failed debt plan another blow to President Buhari The Nigerian senate’s decision to block the president’s borrowing plans may preclude an infrastructure-focused stimulus plan. The bill’s failure highlights the importance of boosting domestic non-oil... 2nd November 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Mozambique: Debt revelations push up bond yields News that Mozambique is seeking to restructure its debts sent its US$ bond yields soaring. South African markets shrugged off another attempt to depose the respected finance minister. 28th October 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Fiscal goals still too ambitious Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s budget plans rely on an economic acceleration that we believe is unlikely to materialise. If growth stays weak, South Africa will over-shoot its deficit and debt... 26th October 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Mozambique: What to make of the latest debt revelations It seems likely that Mozambique will eventually reach a debt restructuring deal with its creditors. But the revelation of yet more hidden debt (or another currency fall) could result in a messier... 26th October 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria’s banks look increasingly frail Concerns about the health of Nigerian banks have risen over the past month. Indeed, as we explain in this Watch, it now looks increasingly likely that parts of the financial sector will require... 20th October 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: Economy falters in Q3 August output data suggests that South Africa’s economy did not sustain the rapid growth posted in Q2 into Q3. We expect that growth will be very weak over the remainder of 2016 and into 2017. 19th October 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Ethiopia: Political crisis rocks African growth star The government’s decision to establish a state of emergency could worsen Ethiopia’s rolling political crisis. The deteriorating situation risks knocking the country off its current growth trajectory. 10th October 2016 · 1 min read
Africa Economics Update Nigeria: Naira crashes on parallel market The widening gap between Nigerian’s official and parallel exchange rates highlights the CBN’s continuing influence over the official FX market. We expect that the official rate will be devalued by... 30th September 2016 · 1 min read
