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South Africa's budget deficit, debt seen widening as virus hits economy
June 24, 2020--South Africa projected its budget deficit would widen to 14.6% of GDP in the current fiscal year, the highest since the end of apartheid.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a 500 billion rand coronavirus relief package in April, equivalent to 10% of South Africa’s GDP.
South Africa's budget deficit is projected to widen sharply while debt is seen ballooning significantly, the Treasury said on Wednesday, as the COVID-19 pandemic further stifles the recession-hit economy.
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Source: cnbc.com
Nigeria: With COVID-19, Nigeria's Balance of Trade Dwindles
June 21, 2020--For two consecutive quarters, Nigeria's trade balance has been in the deficit. The largest economy in Africa recorded a trade deficit to the tune of about N139billion in first quarter of 2020 with imports component of trade at about N4.22trillion while export stood at about N4.08trillion.
The National Bureau of Statistics has attributed the dismal performance to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation's economy.
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Source: allafrica.com
Rand loses over 3% as fears over coronavirus reignite
June 11, 2020--The rand's rally of last week has come to an abrupt end, with the local currency losing over 3% on Thursday to breach R17/$.
This follows a grim economic outlook published by the US Federal Reserve on Wednesday-which included a pledge to keep interest rates on the low side until 2022 -as well as a fresh batch of unemployment claims.
Initial claims for the week ending 6 June fell to a seasonally adjusted 1.5 million, but analysts have warned the labour market's recovery is likely to be slow.
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Source: FIN24
Tanzania: Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange Trading Returns After Friday Shocker
June 10, 2020--Trading activities returned to equity counters at the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) during the first working day this week after nil trading on Friday.
On Friday, the 24-year old stock market shocked financial analysts when it recorded zero trading on equities.
It, however, moved government securities valued at Sh16.7 billion on Friday as investors increasingly prefer risk-free investment avenues to equities.view more
Source: allafrica.com
Rand's winning streak continues-but it could be short-lived
June 5, 2020--With the rand below R17/$ for the first time in two months, analysts have warned the possibility that it will again start to weaken in the short term is fairly high.
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Source: FIN24
Stock market rally peters out as oil prices fall
June 4, 2020--Global stock markets took a turn for the weaker on Thursday after previous gains, with investors cautious as they awaited a key ECB meeting.
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Source: FIN24
Rand's speedy recovery rally caught some traders by surprise
June 1, 2020--The rand's rapid turnaround from April's record low has already burnt some traders' fingers.
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Source: FIN24
IMF Working Paper-Can Digitalization Help Deter Corruption in Africa?
May 29, 2020--Summary:
This paper studies the effect of digitalization on the perception of corruption and trust in tax officials in Africa. Using individual-level data from Afrobarometer surveys and several indices of digitalization, we find that an increase in digital adoption is associated with a reduction in the perception of corruption and an increase in trust in tax officials.
Exploiting the exogeneous deployment of submarine cables at the local level, the paper provides evidence of a negative impact of the use of Internet on the perception of corruption. Yet, the paper shows that the dampening effect of digitalization on corruption is hindered in countries where the government has a pattern of intentionally shutting down the Internet, while countries that successfully promote information and communication technology (ICT) enjoy a more amplified effect.
view the IMF Working Paper-Can Digitalization Help Deter Corruption in Africa?
Source: IMF
Floor trading resumes at NYSE-with masks and plexiglas
May 26, 2020--The New York Stock Exchange, the symbolic heart of Wall Street, reopened its floor Tuesday after a two-month closure due to the coronavirus, with traders donning masks and separated by plexiglas.
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Source: FIN24
Rand strengthens thanks to lockdown easing globally
May 25, 2020--The rand, which was seen heading past R20 to the US dollar, has strengthened in recent weeks as the world's leading economies ease lockdown restrictions.
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Source: FIN24
