
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="612" height="357" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400669" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg 612w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1-300x175.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance</figcaption></figure>



<p>April 10 (Reuters) &#8211; The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Thursday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-events">EVENTS:</h2>



<p>Rwanda&#8217;s statistics office releases consumer inflation data for March.</p>



<p>Mozambique statistics office releases consumer inflation data for March.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-markets">GLOBAL MARKETS</h2>



<p>Asian shares climbed and a manic bond selloff stabilised on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would temporarily lower the hefty duties he had just imposed on dozens of countries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-oil-prices">WORLD OIL PRICES</h2>



<p>Oil prices retreated on Thursday as U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up a trade war with China, even as he announced a 90-day pause on tariffs aimed at other countries.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-africa-markets">SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS</h2>



<p>The rand struck an all-time low in jittery trade on Wednesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s trade war and the risk that South Africa&#8217;s market-friendly coalition government could split unnerved investors.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-markets">KENYA MARKETS</h2>



<p>Kenya&#8217;s shilling was broadly stable against the dollar on Wednesday, data from the London Stock Exchange Group showed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-central-africa-oil">CENTRAL AFRICA OIL</h2>



<p>U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation that could block International Monetary Fund support for some Central African countries, in an effort to guard billions of dollars that oil companies must set aside for environmental restoration.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-us-aid">US AID</h2>



<p>President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration wants the U.N. World Food Programme to modify operations backed by the U.S. in six countries, a State Department spokesperson said on Wednesday, after Washington terminated and then reinstated the assistance.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-congo-coup">CONGO COUP</h2>



<p>The U.S. Department of Justice has charged four Americans for their role in an attempted coup in the Democratic Republic of Congo after three of the men were returned to U.S. custody this week, according to a criminal complaint unsealed on Wednesday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nigeria-cenbank">NIGERIA CENBANK</h2>



<p>Nigeria recorded a balance of payments surplus of $6.83 billion in 2024, driven by the impact of reforms, a stronger trade performance and renewed investor confidence in the economy, the Central Bank of Nigeria said on Monday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gabon-election">GABON ELECTION</h2>



<p>The top opposition candidate in Gabon&#8217;s presidential election challenged the eligibility of Brice Oligui Nguema in an interview with Reuters, saying the putschist-turned-frontrunner posed a threat to democracy.</p>



<p>((Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom))</p>


World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance

African Markets – Factors to watch on April 10


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="612" height="357" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400669" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg 612w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1-300x175.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance</figcaption></figure>



<p>April 9 (Reuters) &#8211; The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Wednesday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-events">EVENTS:</h2>



<p>Kenya&#8217;s central bank governor holds a news conference a day after announcing the latest lending rate decision.</p>



<p>The African Development Bank will host a press conference on its upcoming annual meeting in the last week of May.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-markets">GLOBAL MARKETS</h2>



<p>Stocks in Asia extended a slide on Wall Street on Wednesday as President Donald Trump looked set to press ahead with whopping 104% tariffs on Chinese goods, pummelling oil prices to four-year lows as global recession fears gripped financial markets.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-oil-prices">WORLD OIL PRICES</h2>



<p>Oil prices dropped to their lowest in more than four years in early trade on Wednesday on looming demand concerns fuelled by an escalating tariff war between the U.S. and China, the world&#8217;s two biggest economies, and a rising supply outlook.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-africa-markets">SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS</h2>



<p>South Africa&#8217;s rand strengthened on Tuesday as the country&#8217;s two biggest political parties said they were not walking away from the coalition government and were open to further talks to try to resolve a bitter dispute over the budget.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-markets">KENYA MARKETS</h2>



<p>Kenya&#8217;s shilling strengthened slightly against the dollar on Tuesday, data from the London Stock Exchange Group showed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-us-aid">US AID</h2>



<p>President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration on Tuesday moved to reinstate at least six recently canceled U.S. foreign aid programs for emergency food assistance, six sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-rates">KENYA RATES</h2>



<p>Kenya&#8217;s central bank cut its policy rate on Tuesday for the fifth meeting in a row, a surprise move aimed at further stimulating private sector lending.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-congo-justice">CONGO JUSTICE</h2>



<p>Three American citizens jailed over a failed coup attempt in Democratic Republic of Congo were handed over to U.S. custody on Tuesday, officials said, following high-level talks between the two countries on security and mining deals, the Congolese presidency told Reuters on Tuesday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ethiopia-politics">ETHIOPIA POLITICS</h2>



<p>Ethiopia&#8217;s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday appointed Tadesse Worede to lead the interim administration in the northern Tigray region, where divisions in the ruling party have sparked fears of a renewed war between Ethiopia and Eritrea.</p>



<p>((Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom))</p>


African Markets – Factors to watch on April 9


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="5000" height="3334" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/WSODY4AV2JNYNIDLTPZFGGWEU4.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-607487"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Labour MP Bambos Charalambous speaks at the House of Commons in London, Britain, November 16, 2022. UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



<p>LONDON, April 9 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;A British lawmaker has introduced a private member&#8217;s bill that would set new rules around debt restructurings in a push to speed up negotiations for poor countries struggling with unsustainable debt.</p>



<p>Bambos Charalambous, who introduced the bill late last year, said support from other members of parliament had grown since the UK and the United States slashed aid spending. He represents the ruling Labour party in parliament, but neither it nor the opposition conservatives have thrown their support behind the bill.</p>



<p>Charalambous said his party may be persuaded to back it and it was being studied by some in governmemt. His effort follows similar proposals in New York state, which supporters say would enable poor nations to emerge faster and stronger from debt distress, while opponents warn they could make future borrowing more expensive.</p>



<p>Lawyers and investors following the debate on both sides of the Atlantic expect debt campaigners to keep pushing until some iteration of the proposals becomes law.</p>



<p>Trillions of dollars in bonds &#8211; accounting for nearly all tradeable sovereign debt issued by developing governments and companies on international capital markets &#8211; are issued under the laws of either New York state or England.</p>



<p>English law governs a disproportionate share &#8211; estimated at up to 90% &#8211; of those bonds issued by the poorest nations, such as Ethiopia and Ghana.</p>



<p>&#8220;It would, number one, compel private creditors to negotiate in good faith, and quickly, with the debt-distressed countries,&#8221; Charalambous told Reuters regarding the bill.</p>



<p>&#8220;And it could be worth billions to (the countries), and that money could be reinvested into health and education projects.&#8221;</p>



<p>Charalambous&#8217;s bill would allow countries to seek debt payment freezes while restructuring negotiations are underway, and also enable a stay on legal proceedings during the process.</p>



<p>It would also cap the claims that private creditors can make via lawsuits after restructurings are concluded, aiming to prevent holdout creditors from blocking or slowing debt deals.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-states-vulnerable">STATES VULNERABLE</h2>



<p>Currently, if a country defaults on its bonds, creditors can go to court in the jurisdiction governing the contract to force repayment; some of Ethiopia&#8217;s bondholders have said they could undertake legal proceedings.</p>



<p>Such court cases typically spark lengthy legal proceedings that can delay or complicate a broader restructuring.</p>



<p>A wave of developing countries, from Ghana to Sri Lanka, have defaulted since 2020, weakened by the COVID-19 pandemic and a global interest rate hiking cycle.</p>



<p>The G20 created an initiative called the Common Framework to try to bring together diverse lenders &#8211; from China to New York investors &#8211; to speed up poor countries&#8217; debt reworks.</p>



<p>But it took Zambia more than three years to restructure its primary debts, and critics say the debt relief it and other nations have secured leaves them vulnerable to future crises.</p>



<p>No iteration of the New York bill has made it to the governor&#8217;s desk, but emerging market bond investors have begun to include clauses in bond deals that would allow them to switch jurisdictions to avoid potential curbs.</p>



<p>(Reporting by Libby GeorgeEditing by Alexandra Hudson)</p>


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UK bill aims to speed debt restructuring for poor countries


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="410" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/AFREXIMBANK-HQ-scaled-1-820x410.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-497710" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/AFREXIMBANK-HQ-scaled-1-820x410.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/AFREXIMBANK-HQ-scaled-1-300x150.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/AFREXIMBANK-HQ-scaled-1-160x80.jpg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/AFREXIMBANK-HQ-scaled-1-768x384.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/AFREXIMBANK-HQ-scaled-1.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



<p>CAPE TOWN, April 7 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), a key investor in oil and gas projects, has earmarked $3 billion to finance the purchase of refined products within Africa as part of broader plans to boost refining capacity, a senior executive said.</p>



<p>Africa exports around 80% of its crude oil, and 45% of the natural gas it produces, leaving the fast-growing continent heavily-reliant on imported refined products, according to the bank and analysts.</p>



<p>A lack of storage infrastructure and older refineries with relatively small output capacity characterise the&nbsp;energy&nbsp;landscape of sub-Saharan Africa.</p>



<p>&#8220;The time has come for Africa to take control of its energy destiny,&#8221; Kanayo Awani, executive vice-president at Afreximbank told an energy conference in Cape Town, South Africa, on Monday.</p>



<p>Awani said the $3 billion revolving intra-African oil importing financing initiative will be used for products including premium motor spirit, automotive gas oil, heavy fuel oil, jet fuel, and kerosene, among others.</p>



<p>Afreximbank, which has invested in the 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) Dangote refinery in Nigeria, and the Lobito and Cabinda refineries in Angola, has traditionally helped finance imports of refined products from outside the continent.</p>



<p>Africa spends an estimated $30 billion in annual petroleum import costs due to inadequate refining capacity, Awani said.</p>



<p>In Nigeria, for example, increased investments have helped create 1.3 million bpd of refining capacity, helping make the Gulf of Guinea a key refining hub for the continent.</p>



<p>&#8220;Our goal is to support 3 million barrels per day of refining capacity in the near to medium term, that is our ambition,&#8221; Awani told Reuters.</p>



<p>A joint report last year by energy consultancy CITAC and Puma Energy found that the demand for cleaner fuels was set to rise by 56% from 2022 levels to reach 142 million metric tons by 2040.</p>



<p>(Reporting by Wendell Roelf; Editing by Rachna Uppal)</p>


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Oil and gas investor Afreximbank earmarks $3 bln to support locally-refined products


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Stock-value-rising-and-falling-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-404443" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Stock-value-rising-and-falling-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Stock-value-rising-and-falling-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Stock-value-rising-and-falling-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Stock-value-rising-and-falling.jpg 1254w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Macro view of a screen of trading terminal with abstract financial graph and digits. Trading and forex concept. 3D Rendering</figcaption></figure>



<p>April 7 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The emerging market stocks index on Monday was heading for its biggest one-day selloff since the 2008 global financial crisis, as U.S. President Donald Trump remained determined to upend the global trade order that markets worry could trigger a recession.</p>



<p>Investors started the week parsing Trump&#8217;s comments that signaled they would have to endure more pain and he would not do a deal with China until the U.S. trade deficit was sorted out, which drove MSCI&#8217;s EM stocks index down by 7.9%.</p>



<p>A currencies gauge weakened 0.4% to the dollar and was set for its largest daily drop since November, with those of China, India dipping 0.4% each, while South Africa&#8217;s rand and Mexico&#8217;s peso weakened over 1% each.</p>



<p>Financial assets in the developed, developing and the frontier world along with commodity prices were extending last week&#8217;s rout after the U.S. President&#8217;s restrictive trade policies was met with quick retaliation from Beijing, fanning worries that a global trade war could weigh on economic performance.</p>



<p>Investors are also anticipating a response from Europe this week, while other trade-reliant economies in south east Asia are hoping to strike trade deals with the U.S.</p>



<p>&#8220;Investors had assumed Trump&#8217;s trade taxes were a bargaining tool, as during the first term. If the competence of policymaking is questioned, markets will worry that economic damage will be lasting,&#8221; said from Paul Donovan, chief economist at UBS Global Wealth Management.</p>



<p>On Monday, equities in China slid 7% and those in Hong Kong tanked 13.2% &#8211; its steepest decline since 1997. Brokerage Goldman Sachs said it expects Chinese policymakers to accelerate fiscal easing measures significantly to offset the repercussions of higher tariffs.</p>



<p>MSCI&#8217;s index tracking Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slid 8.4% and a plunge in Korean shares triggered a trading curb for the first time in eight months.</p>



<p>Investors also began to bet on the increasing likelihood of corporate and sovereign credit defaults, as the five-year credit default swap spread on the Markit Itraxx Asia ex-Japan index, widening to its highest since August last year, according to S&amp;P Global Market Intelligence data.</p>



<p>The default swaps on China jumped 82 basis points, while that of South Africa climbed seven bps.</p>



<p>International sovereign bonds of a number of frontier markets also suffered sharp selloffs with those of Sri Lanka, Egypt and Kenya falling over 4 cents on the dollar.</p>



<p>Markets were pricing in that a stronger dollar against weaker emerging market currencies, combined with a weak global trade environment could increase the risk of a debt spiral in emerging markets.</p>



<p>Some economies such as Sri Lanka and Pakistan were just regaining their footing after defaults triggered by the COVID pandemic.</p>



<p>Pakistan&#8217;s hard-currency bonds lost over 10 cents putting it below the 70 mark, widely perceived as distressed debt.</p>



<p>Worries of a global recession also had markets pencilling in the likelihood that the U.S. Federal Reserve could lower borrowing costs by at least five 25 basis points by December, according to data compiled by LSEG.</p>



<p>Markets are also expecting sluggish economic performance to also speed up interest rate cuts by central banks in developing economies at their upcoming monetary policy meets, such as India and Singapore.</p>



<p>The market rout continued, with equities in South Africa Indian .NSEI, .BSESN and Turkey falling about 2% to 4% each.</p>



<p>An index tracking central and eastern European stocks tumbled 4.7%, with those of more open economies such as Czech Republic and Hungary falling 5.4% and 6.9%, respectively.</p>



<p>Hungary&#8217;s forint depreciated 0.5% against the euro and Poland&#8217;s zloty dropped 0.8%.</p>



<p>Currencies such as the euro and Swiss franc outperformed the dollar as markets priced in the likelihood that the U.S. economy could also be hit with a recession, in the face of tighter trade.</p>



<p>(Reporting by Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)</p>


Macro view of a screen of trading terminal with abstract financial graph and digits. Trading and forex concept. 3D Rendering

EMERGING MARKETS-Trade war, recession fears put stocks on path for biggest daily drop since 2008


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="5000" height="3276" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2V3STLYNKBL7XMBFJ4ETGLPALQ.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-606741"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">An MTN logo is seen outside the company&#8217;s headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa, March 13, 2023. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



<p>JOHANNESBURG, April 7 (Reuters) &#8211; MTN Group, Africa&#8217;s biggest mobile operator, said on Monday it has entered into a strategic partnership with UK video software maker Synamedia to develop a new streaming platform tailored for mobile and fibre subscribers across Africa.</p>



<p>Launched in 1994, MTN Group has diversified from just providing voice calls and data, to being a technology media company that also provides fintech, digital and entertainment services as voice declines.</p>



<p>&#8220;We see a unique opportunity to transform video consumption in Africa with high-quality, accessible and relevant content,&#8221; said Selorm Adadevoh, Group Chief Commercial Officer at MTN Group.</p>



<p>MTN Group, which has 291 million customers across 16 markets in Africa, is hoping to capitalise on the rapid uptake of smartphones and improving telecommunications infrastructure on the continent, which have both driven demand for video streaming services.</p>



<p>The proposed service will leverage Synamedia&#8217;s cloud-based technologies to deliver both linear television and video-on-demand content, the companies said in a joint statement.</p>



<p>The platform will offer diverse monetization models, including subscriptions, ad-supported content and free streaming channels with targeted advertising, they said.</p>



<p>Each market will benefit from a curated content strategy, adapted to local cultures, languages, and viewing habits, they added.</p>



<p>The parties will enter a streaming market where not only MultiChoice&#8217;s Showmax has a strong foothold, but also global competitors Netflix, Disney, Amazon Prime and Apple TV.</p>



<p>(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)</p>


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MTN teams up with UK’s Synamedia to launch African streaming platform


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="612" height="357" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400669" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg 612w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1-300x175.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance</figcaption></figure>



<p>April 7 (Reuters) &#8211; The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Monday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-markets">GLOBAL MARKETS</h2>



<p>Major stock indexes plunged in Asia on Monday as White House officials showed no sign of backing away from their sweeping tariff plans, and investors wagered the mounting risk of recession could see U.S. interest rates cut as early as May.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-oil-prices">WORLD OIL PRICES</h2>



<p>Oil prices slid more than 3% on Monday, deepening last week&#8217;s losses, as escalating trade tensions between the United States and China stoked fears of a recession that would reduce demand for crude.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-africa-markets">SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS</h2>



<p>South African assets fell further on Friday as investors worried about the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s sweeping tariffs and the future of South Africa&#8217;s coalition government.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-markets">KENYA MARKETS</h2>



<p>Kenya&#8217;s shilling was unchanged against the dollar on Friday, data from the London Stock Exchange Group showed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ethiopia-debt">ETHIOPIA DEBT</h2>



<p>Ethiopia&#8217;s official creditors expect to finalise within months a draft debt restructuring that gives the government more time to pay but stops short of an outright haircut, the co-chair of the group told Reuters.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mali-drone">MALI DRONE</h2>



<p>Mali accused neighbouring Algeria of shooting down one of its surveillance drones near their shared border in a statement read out by the security minister on national TV on Sunday.</p>



<p></p>


African Markets – Factors to watch on April 7


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="480" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IA4F5V5BOBKMZGXUYZUHEWQQVQ.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-605143"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The World Bank logo is seen at the 2023 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, U.S., April 13, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



<p>LONDON, April 3 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The World Bank&#8217;s private investment arm is backing the rush into digital data in Africa with a $100 million investment in regional data centre developer and operator Raxio Group, funding centres from Ethiopia to Angola.</p>



<p>Digital demand on the continent is surging, but infrastructure remains scarce. Africa accounts for less than 1% of the world&#8217;s data centre capacity even as mobile data usage grows by around 40% annually &#8211; nearly double the global average, according to U.S. advocacy group Internet Society.</p>



<p>The debt funding by the World Bank&#8217;s International Finance Corporation (IFC) &#8211; its largest such investment to date in Africa &#8211; reflects rising interest from global institutions in the continent&#8217;s digital economy, where mobile money, AI-driven services and cloud-based platforms are rapidly expanding. Hosting data locally reduces costs, improves speeds and gives governments more control over cybersecurity and regulation.</p>



<p>&#8220;Data centres as such and overall digital connectivity is an important area of focus for the IFC,&#8221; said Sarvesh Suri, IFC regional industry director, infrastructure and natural resources in Africa.</p>



<p>Improving digital connectivity and building the backbones of digital infrastructure are of key importance to support economic growth in Africa, Suri added.</p>



<p>After launching its first facility in Uganda in 2021, Raxio is building a network of top standard data centres, including one in Ivory Coast with construction underway in Mozambique, Ethiopia and Democratic Republic of Congo.</p>



<p>The expansion comes as global tech giants and infrastructure investors view Africa as the next battleground for cloud services. Cloud computing and tech giants such as Amazon Web Services AMZN.O, Microsoft Azure MSFT.O and Huawei are ramping up partnerships and presence on the continent, but many still rely on Europe or South Africa for hosting.</p>



<p>&#8220;We see the interest, the support, the engagement, the collaboration we are getting from the governments where we operate, who really want this to happen,&#8221; said Raxio Group CEO Robert Skjodt.</p>



<p>Building data centres in frontier markets isn&#8217;t without risk. Unreliable power supply, complex regulation and political instability can deter commercial players.</p>



<p>Development finance institutions play a crucial role by de-risking early investments that can unlock long-term private capital, said Suri.</p>



<p>&#8220;We bring in the right kind of instruments to help support investors to reduce the risk over all this, to make sure that these investments continue to be long-term, sustainable, and profitable, but also economically beneficial for the countries,&#8221; said Suri.</p>



<p>(Reporting by Colleen Goko; Editing by Karin Strohecker)</p>


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World Bank backs Africa digital data push with $100 million Raxio deal


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="612" height="357" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400669" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg 612w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1-300x175.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance</figcaption></figure>



<p>NAIROBI, April 1 (Reuters) &#8211; The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Tuesday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-markets">GLOBAL MARKETS</h2>



<p>Asian equities rose on Tuesday following Wall Street&#8217;s overnight gains, while gold hit an all-time peak and Treasury yields fell as markets awaited details of U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s reciprocal tariffs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-oil-prices">WORLD OIL PRICES</h2>



<p>Oil prices inched higher on Tuesday after threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to impose secondary tariffs on Russian crude and attack Iran, though worries about the impact of a trade war on global growth capped gains.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-africa-markets">SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS</h2>



<p>The South African rand strengthened on Monday as local news reports said the two biggest political parties in the ruling coalition government were close to an agreement that could end an impasse over the country&#8217;s national budget.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-inflation">KENYA INFLATION</h2>



<p>Kenya&#8217;s inflation rose to 3.6% year-on-year in March from 3.5% a month before, the statistics office said on Monday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ethiopia-central-bank">ETHIOPIA CENTRAL BANK</h2>



<p>Ethiopia&#8217;s central bank said on Monday that it would begin conducting foreign exchange auctions every two weeks to ensure stability on the country&#8217;s forex market.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uganda-electricity">UGANDA ELECTRICITY</h2>



<p>Ugandan private power utility Umeme Limited said on Monday it had received $118 million in compensation from the government for unrecovered investments, following the expiration of its monopoly rights to distribute electricity in the country.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ivory-coast-cocoa">IVORY COAST COCOA</h2>



<p>Cocoa arrivals at ports in top grower Ivory Coast had reached 1.441 million metric tons by March 30 since the start of the season on October 1, up 11.1% from the same period last season, exporters estimated on Monday. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zimbabwe-politics">ZIMBABWE POLITICS</h2>



<p>Police deployed heavily in Zimbabwe&#8217;s capital and other cities on Monday, largely neutralising a call by veterans for massive protests against plans to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa&#8217;s rule.</p>



<p>((Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom))</p>


African Markets – Factors to watch on April 1


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="612" height="357" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400669" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg 612w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1-300x175.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance</figcaption></figure>



<p>NAIROBI, March 31 (Reuters) &#8211; The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Monday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-markets">GLOBAL MARKETS</h2>



<p>World share markets were in a tailspin on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump said tariffs would essentially cover all countries, stoking worries a global trade war could lead to recession.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-oil-prices">WORLD OIL PRICES</h2>



<p>Oil markets on Monday shrugged off U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s threat to hit buyers of Russian oil with tariffs as the shock value of the barrage of threats from the White House begins to wear thin with jaded traders.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-africa-markets">SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS</h2>



<p>South Africa&#8217;s rand slipped on Friday, as concerns lingered over U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariffs and an impasse between the ruling coalition&#8217;s two biggest parties over the state budget.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nigeria-crude-oil">NIGERIA CRUDE OIL</h2>



<p>Exports of four key Nigerian crude oil grades will average around 727,000 barrels per day in May, preliminary programmes seen by Reuters showed, down from a planned 802,000 bpd scheduled to load in April.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-markets">KENYA MARKETS</h2>



<p>The Kenyan shilling firmed slightly against the dollar on Friday, data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) showed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-uganda-petroleum-refinery">UGANDA PETROLEUM REFINERY</h2>



<p>Uganda on Saturday signed an oil refinery agreement with UAE-based Alpha MBM Investments for a 60% stake in crude oil refinery in Kabaale, Hoima District, President Yoweri Museveni&#8217;s office said in a statement.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-sudan-security">SOUTH SUDAN SECURITY</h2>



<p>South Sudan&#8217;s First Vice President Riek Machar is under arrest and will be investigated on charges of trying to stir up rebellion, the government said on Friday, the first confirmation of a detention that world powers fear could reignite civil war.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-somalia-u-s-diplomacy">SOMALIA U.S. DIPLOMACY</h2>



<p>Somalia is prepared to offer the United States exclusive control of strategic air bases and ports, its president said in a letter to President Donald Trump seen by Reuters on Friday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ghana-security">GHANA SECURITY</h2>



<p>Three Chinese nationals were missing from Ghanaian waters and believed to have been kidnapped after a &#8220;suspected pirate attack&#8221; on their Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel, the West African nation&#8217;s military said on Saturday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-democratic-republic-of-congo-security">DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO SECURITY</h2>



<p>Qatari mediators hosted a second round of talks on Friday between Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and separately met representatives of the Rwandan-backed rebellion waging an insurgency in eastern Congo, four sources told Reuters.</p>



<p>((Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom))</p>


African Markets – Factors to watch on March 31


<p>March 28 (Reuters) &#8211; The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Friday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-events">EVENTS:</h2>



<p>The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to announce its first interest rates decision for 2025.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-markets">GLOBAL MARKETS</h2>



<p>Asian stocks fell on Friday with heavy selling in South Korea and Japan while safe-haven gold hit a record high as the latest tariff salvo from U.S. President Donald Trump stoked investor worries of an all-out trade war.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-oil-prices">WORLD OIL PRICES</h2>



<p>Oil prices held near one-month highs on Friday and were poised for a third weekly gain on a tightening global supply outlook after the U.S. imposed tariffs against countries buying oil and gas from Venezuela and placed restrictions on Iranian oil trade.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-africa-markets">SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS</h2>



<p>South Africa&#8217;s rand weakened on Thursday as markets fretted over U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s tariffs due next week.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-markets">KENYA MARKETS</h2>



<p>The Kenyan shilling was stable against the dollar on Thursday, data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) showed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-africa-markets">AFRICA MARKETS</h2>



<p>The Kenyan, Ugandan, Nigerian and Ghanaian currencies are expected to be broadly stable against the dollar in the next week to Thursday, while Zambia&#8217;s is seen under pressure, traders said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-imf">KENYA IMF</h2>



<p>The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday that Kenya&#8217;s cash shortage requires a new spending strategy as it confirmed the government requested a new program.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-sudan-britain">SOUTH SUDAN BRITAIN</h2>



<p>Britain on Thursday advised its citizens in South Sudan to leave the country following rising tensions that have brought the East African nation to the brink of renewed civil war.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-chad-migration">CHAD MIGRATION</h2>



<p>The U.S. embassy in Chad has suspended the issuance of most nonimmigrant visas for 90 days, the State Department said on Thursday, in the first known international travel restrictions of President Donald Trump&#8217;s second term.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-congo-hunger">CONGO HUNGER</h2>



<p>Twenty-eight million people face acute hunger in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a record for the country, driven by an escalating conflict between the government and Rwandan-backed rebels in the east, the United Nations said on Thursday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-sudan-security">SOUTH SUDAN SECURITY</h2>



<p>The detention of South Sudan&#8217;s First Vice President Riek Machar has effectively collapsed the peace deal that ended the 2013-2018 civil war, his party said on Thursday.</p>



<p>((Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom))</p>


African Markets – Factors to watch on March 28


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="612" height="357" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400669" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg 612w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1-300x175.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance</figcaption></figure>



<p>March 27 (Reuters) &#8211; The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Thursday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-events">EVENTS:</h2>



<p>Sierra Leone is expected to announce its rate decision.</p>



<p>Zimbabwe&#8217;s statistics agency releases March inflation data.</p>



<p>Namibia&#8217;s finance minister presents the budget for the fiscal year starting on April 1 2025.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-markets">GLOBAL MARKETS</h2>



<p>Global stocks fell on Thursday, led by heavy losses in Japan and South Korea, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on auto imports, with European stock futures also pointing to a lower open.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-oil-prices">WORLD OIL PRICES</h2>



<p>Oil prices edged up on Thursday on concerns about tighter global supply after U.S. tariff threats on Venezuelan oil buyers and earlier sanctions on Iranian oil buyers, while traders weighed the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump&#8217;s auto tariffs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-africa-markets">SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS</h2>



<p>South Africa&#8217;s rand opened stronger on Thursday, ahead of the release of a quarterly bulletin by the central bank and monthly producer inflation figures.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-markets">KENYA MARKETS</h2>



<p>The Kenyan shilling was stable on Wednesday, supported by foreign-currency inflows from the diaspora and tea exports, traders said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-sudan-security">SOUTH SUDAN SECURITY</h2>



<p>The United States on Thursday called on South Sudan President Salva Kiir to release his rival First Vice President Riek Machar who was reportedly under house arrest, saying it was time the country&#8217;s leaders demonstrated their commitment to peace.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nigeria-security">NIGERIA SECURITY</h2>



<p>Suspected Islamist fighters launched a coordinated attack on an army base and a military outpost in Nigeria&#8217;s northeastern Borno State, killing at least 16 people, security sources told Reuters.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-senegal-economy">SENEGAL ECONOMY</h2>



<p>The International Monetary Fund on Wednesday called for Senegal to streamline tax exemptions and phase out costly energy subsidies as part of &#8220;urgent reforms&#8221; after an audit revealed misreporting of economic data.</p>



<p>((Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom))</p>



<p></p>


African Markets – Factors to watch on March 27


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="612" height="357" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400669" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg 612w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1-300x175.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance</figcaption></figure>



<p>March 26 (Reuters) &#8211; The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Wednesday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-events">EVENTS:</h2>



<p>Kenya&#8217;s Finance Minister John Mbadi will launch the government&#8217;s medium term strategy, laying out his plans to keep the government afloat amid high debt service costs and squeezed revenues.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-markets">GLOBAL MARKETS</h2>



<p>Asian stocks followed Wall Street higher on Wednesday and the U.S. dollar meandered as markets awaited clarity on President Donald Trump&#8217;s trade policy ahead of a new round of tariffs next week.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-oil-prices">WORLD OIL PRICES</h2>



<p>Oil prices climbed on Wednesday in early Asia trade on concerns of tighter supplies after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs against countries importing oil and gas from Venezuela and after U.S. crude inventories fell more than expected.</p>



<p>South Africa&#8217;s rand gained on Monday as investors awaited clarity on the next round of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-markets">KENYA MARKETS</h2>



<p>The Kenyan shilling was stable on Tuesday, supported by inflows of foreign exchange from several sectors including horticulture, traders said.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sudan-politics">SUDAN POLITICS</h2>



<p>A Sudanese paramilitary force locked in a war with the army has placed new constraints on aid deliveries to territories where it is seeking to cement its control, including areas where famine is spreading, humanitarian workers say.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-congo-security">CONGO SECURITY</h2>



<p>Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo battled militiamen allied with the government on Tuesday as regional countries tried to give fresh impetus to faltering peace initiatives.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-sudan-security">SOUTH SUDAN SECURITY</h2>



<p>South Sudan&#8217;s First Vice President Riek Machar has accused Uganda of violating a United Nations arms embargo by entering the country with armoured and air force units, and conducting airstrikes there.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-burundi-security">BURUNDI SECURITY</h2>



<p>Burundi&#8217;s President Evariste Ndayishimiye said he had seen &#8220;credible intelligence&#8221; that Rwanda has a plan to attack his country, whose forces have battled Rwandan-backed rebels in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.</p>



<p>((Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom))</p>


African Markets – Factors to watch on March 26


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="4012" height="2932" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/4MJWUG2Y4BLLRMY5UP5QQD5V6Y.avif" alt="" class="wp-image-601607"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Women walk past a PEP Home store in Johannesburg, South Africa, November, 22, 2022. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



<p>JOHANNESBURG, March 25 (Reuters) &#8211; South Africa&#8217;s Pepkor said on Tuesday it will buy fashion businesses Legit, Swagga and Style and homewares brand Boardmans from privately owned retail group Retailability, as part of its expansion into the adult clothing market.</p>



<p>Pepkor, which also sells electronics and furniture, already owns the PEP and Ackermans clothing brands which have given it a dominant share of the children&#8217;s clothing and school uniform markets in South Africa.</p>



<p>The total purchase consideration payable on the closing of the proposed deal represents less than 2% of Pepkor&#8217;s market capitalisation subject to relevant net working capital adjustments, Pepkor said in a statement. It will be settled in cash</p>



<p>According to LSEG data, Pepkor&#8217;s market capitalisation was 97 billion rand ($5 billion) at Monday&#8217;s close, making the deal worth around 1.94 billion rand, or $107 million.</p>



<p>The businesses to be bought by Pepkor operate 462 stores across South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini. They will be incorporated into Pepkor&#8217;s Speciality business unit, which has 941 stores across the same countries.</p>



<p>&#8220;The proposed transaction will add significant additional scale to Pepkor Speciality and expand its product offering in the adult market, especially in womenswear through the Legit brand,&#8221; Pepkor said.</p>



<p>Pepkor has been growing its adultwear categories over the past year through the recent acquisition of Choice Clothing and the launch of its new Ayana womenswear brand.</p>



<p>Retailability, which sells affordable apparel and lifestyle products across a number of brands in Southern Africa, bought department store chain Edgars from struggling parent Edcon in 2020 after it entered into a form of bankruptcy protection.</p>



<p>The Edgars, Edgars Beauty, Red Square, Kelso and Keedo businesses will continue to be operated by Retailability, Pepkor said.</p>



<p>($1 = 18.2675 rand)</p>



<p>(Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; Editing by Joe Bavier)</p>


4MJWUG2Y4BLLRMY5UP5QQD5V6Y

South Africa’s Pepkor to buy Retailability adult clothing businesses


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="612" height="357" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400669" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg 612w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1-300x175.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance</figcaption></figure>



<p>March 25 (Reuters) &#8211; The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Tuesday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-events">EVENTS:</h2>



<p>Kenya Airways releases its full year 2024 financial results.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-markets">GLOBAL MARKETS</h2>



<p>Asian stocks rose on Tuesday, taking cues from the Wall Street, as the prospect of narrower-than-feared U.S. tariffs boosted risk appetite, while the dollar hovered near three-week highs after upbeat economic data provided some comfort.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-oil-prices">WORLD OIL PRICES</h2>



<p>Oil prices barely moved on Tuesday as investors weighed the impact of U.S. tariffs on countries buying oil and gas from Venezuela against the effect of tariffs on industries such as automobiles on the global economy and oil demand.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-south-africa-markets">SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS</h2>



<p>South Africa&#8217;s rand gained on Monday as investors awaited clarity on the next round of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-markets">KENYA MARKETS</h2>



<p>Kenya&#8217;s shilling was broadly stable against the dollar on Monday, data from the London Stock Exchange Group showed.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ghana-inflation">GHANA INFLATION</h2>



<p>Ghana&#8217;s new central bank governor said on Monday that inflation remains uncomfortably high and would require a balanced monetary policy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-imf">KENYA IMF</h2>



<p>Kenya has applied for a new lending programme from the International Monetary Fund that will factor in unused money from the current programme which both sides walked away from last week, Finance Minister John Mbadi said on Monday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-senegal-economy">SENEGAL ECONOMY</h2>



<p>The International Monetary Fund said on Monday that talks on a new programme for Senegal could not go ahead until the government addressed the misreporting of key economic data under the previous government.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-congo-security">CONGO SECURITY</h2>



<p>A de facto ceasefire between Congolese forces and Rwandan-backed rebels in the eastern Congo town of Walikale appeared to have broken down on Monday, with the rebels going back on a pledge to withdraw and accusing the army of violating its own commitments.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sudan-diplomacy">SUDAN DIPLOMACY</h2>



<p>South Sudan and Chad have condemned threats made by a top Sudanese general, warning of the risk of regional escalation.</p>



<p>((Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom))</p>


African Markets – Factors to watch on March 25


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1161864874-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-505638" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1161864874-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1161864874-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1161864874-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1161864874-768x513.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1161864874-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-1161864874-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">A South African one rand coin sits on South African rand banknotes in this arranged photograph in Pretoria, South Africa, on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019. The rand ended a tumultuous week on a positive note, gaining against the dollar for a second day and heading for its first weekly advance in four as technical indicators suggested recent declines are overdone. Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



<p>JOHANNESBURG, March 24 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;South Africa&#8217;s rand strengthened on Monday as investors awaited clarity on the next round of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.</p>



<p>At 0738 GMT, the rand traded at 18.17 per dollar, about 0.3% stronger than its previous close.</p>



<p>While the rand has gained about 4% against the dollar this year, trade in the local currency has often been volatile as both domestic and international factors weigh.</p>



<p>South Africa&#8217;s central bank kept its main interest rate unchanged last week despite cooling inflation amid risks stemming from Trump&#8217;s global trade war and the country&#8217;s deadlocked national budget.</p>



<p>The next round of tariffs is due on April 2, when the White House will announce reciprocal levies on many countries.</p>



<p>On the stock market, the Top-40 index was last up about 0.2%.</p>



<p>South Africa&#8217;s benchmark 2030 government bond was weaker, with the yield up 3 basis points to 9.09%.</p>



<p>(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Toby Chopra)</p>


South African Rand Rebound Snaps Streak of Weekly Losses

South African rand firms as markets await US tariff clarity


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="612" height="357" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400669" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1.jpg 612w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1030878162-612x612-1-300x175.jpg 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance</figcaption></figure>



<p>March 24 (Reuters) &#8211; The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Monday.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-global-markets">GLOBAL MARKETS</h2>



<p>Financial markets made an mixed start on Monday with U.S. stock futures rising but the dollar wavering ahead of a week driven by data, Chinese earnings and the threat of steep U.S. tariff hikes on the horizon.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-world-oil-prices">WORLD OIL PRICES</h2>



<p>Oil prices slipped on Monday as investors assessed the outlook for ceasefire talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, which could lead to an increase in Russian oil to global markets.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-markets">KENYA MARKETS</h2>



<p>The Kenyan shilling was flat in early trading on Friday, compared with its performance in the previous session, according to data from the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sudan-war">SUDAN WAR</h2>



<p>The Sudanese army seized full control of the presidential palace in downtown Khartoum on Friday, it said in a statement, in what would be a major gain in a two-year-old conflict with a rival armed group that has threatened to partition the country.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ethiopia-security">ETHIOPIA SECURITY</h2>



<p>Ethiopia&#8217;s army said on Friday its troops had killed more than 300 fighters from the Fano armed group in two days of clashes in the northern Amhara region, as fears have emerged of a wider regional war.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ethiopia-debt">ETHIOPIA DEBT</h2>



<p>Ethiopia has reached an agreement in principle with its official creditors on restructuring $8.4 billion of debt, the finance ministry said on Friday, adding it hoped the deal could boost difficult talks with other creditors including bondholders.</p>



<p>((Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom))</p>


Economy

African Markets – Factors to watch on April 10

African Markets – Factors to watch on April 9

UK bill aims to speed debt restructuring for poor countries

Oil and gas investor Afreximbank earmarks $3 bln to support locally-refined products

EMERGING MARKETS-Trade war, recession fears put stocks on path for biggest daily drop since 2008

MTN teams up with UK’s Synamedia to launch African streaming platform

African Markets – Factors to watch on April 7

World Bank backs Africa digital data push with $100 million Raxio deal

African Markets – Factors to watch on April 1

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 31

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 28

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 27

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 26

South Africa’s Pepkor to buy Retailability adult clothing businesses

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 25

South African rand firms as markets await US tariff clarity

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 24

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Economy

African Markets – Factors to watch on April 10

African Markets – Factors to watch on April 9

UK bill aims to speed debt restructuring for poor countries

Oil and gas investor Afreximbank earmarks $3 bln to support locally-refined products

EMERGING MARKETS-Trade war, recession fears put stocks on path for biggest daily drop since 2008

MTN teams up with UK’s Synamedia to launch African streaming platform

African Markets – Factors to watch on April 7

World Bank backs Africa digital data push with $100 million Raxio deal

African Markets – Factors to watch on April 1

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 31

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 28

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 27

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 26

South Africa’s Pepkor to buy Retailability adult clothing businesses

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 25

South African rand firms as markets await US tariff clarity

African Markets – Factors to watch on March 24

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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