Africa: Low Commodity Prices Continue to Impede Growth
April 11, 2016--Economic activity in Sub-Saharan Africa slowed in 2015, with GDP growth averaging 3.0 percent, down from 4.5 percent in 2014. This means that the pace of expansion decelerated to the lows last seen in 2009.
These figures are outlined in Africa's Pulse, the World Bank's twice-yearly analysis of economic trends and latest data for the region. The 2016 growth forecast remains subdued at 3.3 percent, way below the robust 6.8 percent growth in GDP that the region sustained in the 2003-2008 period. Overall, growth is projected to pick up in 2017-2018 to 4.5 percent.
view the Africa's Pulse-April 2016 report
Source: World Bank
IMF-Nigeria-Selected Issues
April 8, 2016--OPTIONS AND STRATEGIES FOR A FISCAL RULE FOR
NIGERIA'S OIL WEALTH MANAGEMENT1
1. Despite a diversified economy, Nigeria's fiscal policy is heavily dependent on the oil
sector. With oil price falling, Nigeria's fiscal authorities are faced with significant challenges. Oil
revenues have declined, limiting fiscal spending and fiscal buffers have been almost depleted.
Setting Nigeria's fiscal policy on a more sustainable course is needed going forward. In the presence
of sizeable revenue derived from oil, the near-term priority should focus on better and effective
management of oil wealth. To that effect, a sound fiscal framework is needed.
view the IMF country paper-Nigeria-Selected Issues
Source: IMF
SA's credit rating at risk due to political tensions-S&P
April 6, 2016--Ratings agency S&P says a focus on political issues could divert the SA government's attention from issues around policy implementation, impacting on low growth levels.
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Source: FIN24
New bourse for African beef commodities
April 2, 2016--A new exchange will trade southern and eastern Africa's agricultural commodities.
African Beef Exchange, headquartered in Gaborone, Botswana, brings together trading of a wide range of cattle and cattle products.
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Source: African Capital Market News
JSE shrugs off market euphoria over Nkandla ruling
April 1, 2016--The rand has continued its strong surge, but the currency market's euphoria over the Constitutional Court's Nkandla ruling did not extend to the JSE.
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Source: FIN24
Saudi will only freeze oil output if Iran, others do
April 1, 2016--Saudi Arabia will only freeze output if other key producers, including Iran, take a similar measure, its deputy crown prince says.
JSE rally runs out of steam
March 31, 2016--The global run on financial markets did not last long and new worries about the oil price have put a damper on the strong recovery, with the JSE also losing ground.
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Source: FIN24
Rand firmer as SA awaits Nkandla ruling
March 31, 2016--The rand has firmed against the dollar, holding on to its high against the greenback as market focus is on the Constitutional Court's ruling on Nkandla.
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Source: FIN24
JSE stages strong rally on Yellen speech
March 30, 2016--Share prices on the JSE rallied strongly on Wednesday morning in line with world markets as investors pared back expectations on how fast and how far US interest rates might rise this year.
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Source: FIN24
South Africa: Rand Breaks Through R15/U.S.$ for First Time Since December
March 30, 2016--The rand has broken the R15/$ ceiling on Wednesday after US fed chair Janet Yellen surprised on Tuesday night with dovish comments,
depreciating the dollar against most currencies.
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Source: AllAfricanews.com