Africa ETP News
you are currently viewing::Absa AFMI index shows reform helps in hard timesOctober 22, 2025--Two out of three African countries have not improved or slipped backwards in their ratings among the 29 countries scored in the 2025 edition of the Absa Africa Financial Markets Index (AFMI), now in its ninth year. However, 10 out of 29 countries increased their overall scores, a slowdown from 2024 when 23 countries increased their scores. Those which scored best have been working on reforms, including to their foreign exchange (FX) environment, and to market depth and liquidity. Absa bank and independent think-tank the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF), in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), research progress in the financial development of 29 of the continent’s leading economies. These represent some 80% of the population and of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Africa. Source: africancapitalmarketsnews.com |
Stablecoins in Nigeria: A Growing Cross-Border Channel
June 16, 2026- U.S. dollar-pegged digital tokens reduce payment frictions but raise new policy trade-offs
Nigerian households and small firms are moving money across borders in a new way: via smartphones, digital wallets, and U.S. dollar-pegged crypto assets known as stablecoins.
South African rand strengthens after surprise GDP growth data
June 9, 2026- The rand strengthened on Tuesday after South Africa's economy expanded more than expected in the first quarter of 2026, though the impact of the Iran war was likely to be reflected in the next release.
At 1415 GMT, the rand traded at 16.4325 against the U.S. dollar, up about 0.6%.
Africa's growth holds firm amid global turbulence, says 2026 African Economic Outlook
May 26, 2026-The continent recorded an estimated average GDP growth of 4.4 percent in 2025, with 22 economies posting rates above 5 percent.
In 2026, Africa is projected to grow at 4.2 percent, despite heightened geopolitical tensions and global supply shocks.
Africa's growth holds firm amid global turbulence, says 2026 African Economic Outlook
May 26, 2026-The continent recorded an estimated average GDP growth of 4.4 percent in 2025, with 22 economies posting rates above 5 percent.
In 2026, Africa is projected to grow at 4.2 percent, despite heightened geopolitical tensions and global supply shocks.
Central Africa is expected to see growth rising to 3.8 percent in 2026 from 3.6 percent in 2025, buoyed by sustained high oil prices
Zimbabwe- a tale of two African stock exchanges
June 15, 2026-The Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) is positioning itself as a gateway to international capital entering Zimbabwe and other southern African markets. Will it take liquidity away from parent company the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE), or are the two bourses complementary?
First Mutual Wealth Gold ETF debuts on VFEX
May 2, 2026-Zimbabwe's exchange-traded fund (ETF) landscape has undergone a gradual evolution, shaped by liquidity constraints and shifts in the underlying equity instruments. The launch of the Old Mutual Top 10 ETF in December 2020, the first ETF, with listing in January 2021, marked a significant milestone for the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE), introducing passive investment exposure.
Africa Faces Mounting Risks Just as Growth Gains Take Hold
April 23, 2026- To weather the shock, policymakers should ensure that any near-term measures are time-bound and targeted at the most vulnerable, and maintain the focus on medium-term development objectives.
Sub-Saharan Africa's economies entered 2026 with significant momentum. The region had notched its fastest growth rate in 10 years-4.5 percent in 2025-buoyed by reduced macroeconomic imbalances, rising investment levels, and a generally supportive external environment.
IMF-Regional Economic Outlook Update Sub-Saharan Africa-Hard-Won Gains Under Pressure
April 16, 2026-After a strong 2025 with regional growth estimated at 4.5 percent, sub-Saharan Africa entered 2026 reaping the benefits of hard-won stabilization gains. But the war in the Middle East has clouded the outlook. The shock has caused a rapid increase in key commodity prices, particularly in fuel and fertilizer.
Sub-Saharan Africa's Growth Holds, But Downside Risks Mount
April 8, 2026--Smarter industrial policy can advance Africa's economic transformation and create jobs
Sub-Saharan Africa's economic recovery from a decade of global shocks is showing signs of stalling, with growth projections for 2026 revised downward by 0.3 percentage points from estimates previously published in October 2025, according to the latest edition of the Africa Economic Update, the World Bank Group's biannual economic report for the region.
