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As Millions Mark Africa Day, World Bank Vice President Points Investors to Africa’s ‘Endless Possibilities’
May 25, 2011-- Africa offers endless possibilities to investors, the World Bank said Wednesday.
"Investors going into Africa today are taking advantage of the continent’s endless possibilities," World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region Obiageli Ezekwesili told investors and African ambassadors accredited to the United States in a speech delivered as part of celebrations marking Africa Day.
Observed each year on May 25, the day commemorates the founding in 1963 of the Organization of African Unity, the forerunner organization of the African Union.
Ms Ezekwesili noted that at a time of major global economic turmoil when even rich economies need bailouts, debt buy-backs and IMF funding to stay afloat, Africa is poised to rise as one of the world’s most important growth poles in a multi-polar world.
Africa has rebounded from the global financial and economic crisis, posting GDP growth of 4.5 percent last year. The continent’s GDP is expected to reach 5.1 percent and 5.8 percent in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
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Source: World Bank
Bonds tag weaker rand
May 25, 2011--South African bonds weakened further in late trade on Thursday as they continued to track a weaker rand.
By 15:50, the benchmark R157 bond was trading at 7.565% from its previous close of 7.540%. The R207 was bid at 8.330% and offered at 8.305% from 8.290% and the R186 was bid at 8.545% and offered at 8.525% from 8.490%.
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Source: FIN24
Choppy JSE picks up modest gains
May 25, 2011-- The JSE finished modestly firmer on Wednesday after a choppy session that saw robust mining counters offset falling industrial and financial stocks.
Global equities, which were also slightly higher, helped to boost market sentiments, an equity derivatives dealer said, adding that trading was lacklustre and choppy.
By 17:00 local time, the JSE All Share [JSE:J203] index had risen 0.20%, with resources firming 1.15%, platinum miners jumping 2.40% and gold miners adding 0.65%. However, banks lost 1.23%, financials fell 0.41% and industrials shed 0.37%.
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Source: FIN24
Bruised rand pares back losses
May 25, 2011-- The rand hit a 10-week low on Wednesday but then made up ground as power producer Eskom denied rumours of imminent power outages that had hit the currency.
The rand hit a session low of R7.0748/$, its weakest since March 18, partly as rumours spread that there would be wide power outages, which Eskom denied.
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Source: FIN24
JSE powers exotic derivatives offering with SuperDerivatives market data
May 24, 2011-- SuperDerivatives (SD), the derivatives benchmark and multi-asset front office system, announced today that it will provide the market data to power the Johannesburg Stock Exchange’s (JSE) new exotic currency options offering, namely the ‘any-day expiry’ contracts.
In response to growing demand from a number of South African banks, the JSE will be launching a set of exotic currency products. These derivatives give investors the advantages of listed derivatives with the flexibility of over-the-counter contracts. Investors can negotiate the terms of an option contract, choosing the underlying asset as well as the expiry date.
The JSE will feed in SD’s independent market data to enable accurate calculation of daily closing prices, ensuring investors are equipped with the most accurate information to inform trading decisions.
Warren Geers, General Manager of Trading at the JSE, said: “As the South African listed derivatives market develops and matures, investors are seeking more complex structures, such as non-vanilla/standardised options, in order to hedge their specific risk profiles. These exotic products are often illiquid and difficult to price – however with SuperDerivatives’ market data we can be sure that investors know the true market value of the derivatives they trade with us. Accurate data is an essential component of increasing transparency and improving confidence and liquidity in this market overall.”
Maria Johansson, Regional Sales Manager UK and Africa at SD added: “Our data is sourced from trading desks at close to a hundred global and local interdealer brokers, market makers, exchanges and trading platforms as well as top data aggregators. These true live market rates are then acid tested in real-time in the marketplace by active traders.
Bonds stay firm in late trade read more
Robust JSE pays no heed to Europe read more
Weak rand forces bonds on back foot read more
JSE succumbs to euro-zone woes read more
Risk aversion drags down rand read more
Source: JSE Limited
May 24, 2011--South African bonds were firm but off the session's best levels in late trade on Tuesday. Earlier, a local trader said liquidity was thin and the market had remained more bid than offered
By 15:50, the benchmark R157 bond was trading at 7.560% from its previous close of 7.580%. The R207 was bid at 8.315% and offered at 8.305% from 8.340% and the R186 was bid at 8.515% and offered at 8.495% from 8.520%.
Source: FIN24
May 24, 2011--The JSE made a comeback before the close on Tuesday, despite lingering concerns over sovereign debt in Europe, as local investors scooped bargains and felt emboldened by their enthusiastic global counterparts.
While the euro-zone debt concerns remained, no further news perpetuated gloom over the European troubles, said Kevin Algeo, portfolio manager at Imara SP Reid.
Source: FIN24
May 23, 2011--A softer rand forced bonds onto the back foot on Monday, with the market down around four basis points on the day.
By 15:45, the benchmark R157 bond was trading at 7.590% from its previous close of 7.550%. The R207 was bid at 8.355% from 8.300% and the R186 was trading at 8.520% from 8.465%.
Source: FIN24
May 23, 2011-- The JSE ended a volatile, gloomy session on Monday on a sharply lower note in trading dominated by renewed debt woes in Europe and worries over slowing Chinese growth. Stock markets worldwide fell in tandem.
"There is heightened risk-aversion, which has seen the rand weaken and industrial metals (in particular) fall," said Kevin Algeo, portfolio manager at Imara SP Reid.
Source: FIN24
May 23, 2011--The rand fell 1.8% against the dollar to a week low on Monday, extending earlier losses as investors turned their backs on riskier holdings.
Government bonds were dragged weaker by the currency in a thin market that kept local dealers away at current levels.
Source: FIN24
