News and developments on African capital markets, includes: African securities, African stock exchanges/stock markets, African equities, African bonds, African private equity/venture capital, and African social impact investment
The Securities Commission of Zimbabwe (www.seczim.co.zw) has declined to grant the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (www.zse.co.zw – under maintenance), an operating licence, according to local media, and is challenging the exchange to provide a business plan.
Share prices on the Tunisian Stock Exchange have been moving ahead all November, starting with a positive reaction to the meeting between Rachid Ghannouchi, leader of the Islamist Ennahda party and stock market executives only days after the election and moving forward as the politics progressed well.
Sierra Leone could be the fastest-growing economy in the world in 2012, according to a story on Bloomberg’s Businessweek, which says Finance Minister Samura Kamara forecasts growth at 50%, because of new iron ore mines coming on stream, and 10% in 2013 and in 2014.
Reuters newsagency has put together stories on issuers’ and investors’ difficulties with African stock markets. These include lack of liquidity and sinking currencies. It notes that African companies are increasingly dual listing on international stock exchanges.
U.S. development finance institution, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), is to invest up to $285 million in financing to private equity funds. These in turn should raise more than $875m, representing the largest commitment by the U.S. Government to impact investing in emerging markets.
Developing Africa’s securities exchanges is critical for the continent’s development, with capital markets standing between huge demand for capital for growth and huge demand to invest. The key issues are on the agenda of The 15th Annual African Securities Exchange Association conference (in Marrakesh, Morocco), hosted by Casablanca Stock Exchange, 12-13 December.
The African Development Bank is playing its role in Africa with skill and is getting more backing from its principal shareholders because of its successes as an African institution. Moving back to Cote d’Ivoire is also on the agenda.
Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority has drafted proposals on corporate governance and is waiting for approval so they can be gazetted and become law.
The Nigerian Stock Exchange has placed 24 companies on full suspension for failing to submit their financial statements for the year ended 31 December, 2010 and has also suspended 3 banks that are being rescued.
Egypt is chasing its short-term domestic market to fund ballooning Government deficits, but seems to be preparing for a new Eurobond issue to replace $1 bn in 8.75% Eurobonds maturing in July. US President Barack Obama’s May guarantee on $1 billion of Egyptian debt could cut the country’s borrowing costs by $100 mn.