News and developments on African capital markets: African securities, African stock exchanges, African equities, African bonds, African private equity/venture capital, and African social impact investment. Twitter @africancapital, LinkedIn African Securities Exchanges group.
Despite a great year on the main US markets in 2017, many African stock exchanges offered USD investors a higher return. Biggest gain in USD was the Malawi Stock Exchange index, which climbed by 56.0%, one of 6 African exchanges which beat the Nasdaq index.
Zimbabwean private equity firm Brainworks Capital Management has reportedly launched a $20 million fund targeting Zimbabwe’s agriculture, financial services, mining and telecommunications sectors, according to a report on www.privateequityafrica.com.
The new Commodities Exchange of Zimbabwe (COMEZ) opened on 14 January, but no date is set to start trading. The exchange would be managed by the State, banks and farmers’ unions, shares would be offered to private investors. It will end the monopoly of the State-owned Grain Marketing Board and support continuing agricultural recovery.
According to media reports, Zimbabwe’s Indigenization Minister Saviour Kasukuwere is declining to give permission for leading gold miner Duration Gold to raise US$7 mn by listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange, using powers to block equity deals if he is not sataisfied the company complies with indigenization rules introduced last March.