Other news

Exchange news

African bond markets statistics

Statistics on African local currency bond markets from African Financial Markets Initiative (AFMI) annual report 2017: Total outstanding amount African bonds and bills up 13% to $413bn in 2017, more than 80% of the total comes from 5 countries.

Capital raising

Politics getting better, Ethiopia ready for business says Arkebe Oqubay at UK-Ethiopia forum

A packed room of businesspeople and investors assembled in London on 16 October to hear about opportunities and news at the UK-Ethiopia Trade & Investment Forum 2018. Leader of the delegation was Arkebe Oqubay, Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister, who gave a detailed overview of events of the last 6 months and the big ambitions driving Ethiopia.

Capital raising

12 questions Silicon Valley investors ask – focus for African policymakers

African tech superstar Alysia Silberg (General Partner, Street Global Venture Capital) says African policymakers keen to boost investment into Africa’s fast growing tech sector can focus on 12 investment questions asked by Silicon Valley.

Other news

Rising debt tide threatens credit ratings across Africa

Credit ratings across Africa have been falling, and global rating agency Moody’s says the last 12 months saw far more downgrades than upgrades out of its 24 African sovereign ratings. Seven credit ratings are on negative outlook and only Morocco is on positive outlook.

Capital raising

Do Africa’s $372bn pension fund assets facilitate inclusive growth and social stability?

Africa’s $372bn pension fund assets – do they facilitate inclusive growth and social stability? Is the money well invested, including capital markets and equities, private equity and infrastructure development? Bright Africa report by RisCura.

Exchange news

First African fixed income ETF listed in Mauritius, tracking bond index

African Development Bank (AfDB) and Mauritius Commercial Bank Group (MCB) have launched the African Domestic Bond Fund (ADBF), a pioneer exchange-traded fund (ETF) accessible to investors through listing on 18 September on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius.

Other news

Consensys ramps up blockchain rollout in African financial markets with new appointment

Leading blockchain innovator Consensys continues to ramp up its role in shaping the future of financial services and capital markets in Africa with the recruitment of fintech veteran Ian Bessarabia.

Other Countries

New $60bn US development finance institution arriving soon

The USA is creating a new International Development Finance Corporation with streamlined capacity for investment and doubling the investment cap to $60bn. IDFC will replace the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and draw together several other US investment initiatives.

Capital raising

Recent Africa share listings news

Roundup of recent African share listing news including Old Mutual’s move back to Johannesburg, Grit Real Estate Income Group and ASA International microfinance debut on the London Stock Exchange debut, a green bond in Nigeria and the 9th listing on South Africa’s A2X Markets exchange.

Capital raising

Some African IPOs – August 2018

Roundup of African share offers (IPOs) for investors, including CIPLA-QCI closing 24 Aug in Uganda, Giza Spinning and Weaving in Egypt and telco MTN listings in Uganda, Ghana and Nigeria.

Exchange news

Mobile phone app for trading on Zimbabwe securities exchanges

Investors can use their smartphones to check share and bond portfolios and send orders to stockbrokers in Zimbabwe with an online and mobile trading platform called C-Trade from today (4 July).

Capital raising

Meet FINSEC, Zimbabwe’s second securities exchange

Zimbabweans have a second option for regulated securities trading: Financial Securities Exchange (Private) Limited (FINSEC) is licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe as a securities exchange (alternative trading platform).

Capital raising

Why Ethiopia needs a stock exchange as it liberalizes

One of Africa’s biggest economies. Ethiopia, announced a transformational liberalization and privatization campaign. But there is no Ethiopian stock exchange, limiting participation by citizens and domestic savings funds, and cutting transparency.

Capital raising

Africa-focused Vivo Energy soars after £548m IPO on London SE

Africa’s £1.98 billion ($2.68bn) megalisting Vivo Energy (VVO) soared in its first 2 days of trading on the London Stock Exchange (dual-listed in Johannesburg ) on 10-11 May after a successful initial public offer (IPO) raised £548m.

Capital raising

London Stock Exchange financing African growth

There are 108 African companies listed or trading on the London Stock Exchange with total market capitalization of over $200 billion ($271bn). In the last 10 years they have raised more than $16 bn on London’s markets.

Other news

African Banker award 2018 – here is the shortlist

Organizers of the African Banker Awards have announced shortlisted nominees in the different categories. The awards are hotly contested and will be on 22 May during the annual meetings of the African Development Bank in Busan, South Korea.

Exchange news

African capital markets and innovation key to achieving African agenda

African capital markets are key to African development visions but governments must prioritize market finance structures over donor funding. There are $1trn of assets in pension, insurance and collective investment vehicles across sub-Saharan Africa, speech by Paul Muthaura, CMA Kenya.

Cote d’Ivoire

Sub-Saharan Africa investment banking deals in Q1

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in sub-Saharan Africa in Q1 of 2018 at $4.7 billion were 63% down on a year earlier, according to investment banking analysis for sub-Saharan Africa by Thomson Reuters, but there were $2.7bn in equity follow-on issues and $13bn in debt issues.

Other news

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development explores Africa expansion

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a top backer of capital markets development, is debating new expansion into sub-Saharan Africa and new parts of the Middle East and raising its lending by as much as a third from some EUR9.5 billion euros ($11.7 bn), according to an interview on Reuters.

Exchange news

London Stock Exchange appoints David Schwimmer as CEO

The London Stock Exchange has appointed 49-year-old David Schwimmer as its new CEO, starting on 1 August. He has been working for investment bank Goldman Sachs for the last 20 years