How China Took Over Indonesia’s Nickel Industry To Fuel Its EVs

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1387" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/QHXVUHX3MJJHRDRSFYCEORRMQ4-2-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-469888" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/QHXVUHX3MJJHRDRSFYCEORRMQ4-2-1-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/QHXVUHX3MJJHRDRSFYCEORRMQ4-2-1-300x203.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/QHXVUHX3MJJHRDRSFYCEORRMQ4-2-1-820x555.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/QHXVUHX3MJJHRDRSFYCEORRMQ4-2-1-133x90.jpg 133w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/QHXVUHX3MJJHRDRSFYCEORRMQ4-2-1-768x520.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/QHXVUHX3MJJHRDRSFYCEORRMQ4-2-1-1536x1040.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">People walk past the Bank of Ghana in Accra, Ghana, November 28, 2018. REUTERS/Zohra Bensemra/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



ACCRA, July 26 (Reuters) &#8211; Ghana&#8217;s central bank held its main interest rate steady at 29% for the third meeting in a row on Friday, saying a strong monetary stance was needed due to uncertainty over the inflation outlook.



Economists polled by Reuters before Friday&#8217;s announcement predicted a 50-basis-point cut in its main rate. They expect Ghana to finish the year with interest rates 200 basis points lower.



&#8220;Even though inflation is expected to remain within the target year band, the risks have tilted slightly on the upside,&#8221; Bank of Ghana Governor Ernest Addison told a news conference.



&#8220;This will require maintaining a strong monetary policy stance, supported by strong fiscal consolidation efforts,&#8221; Addison said.



He added that there was some uncertainty regarding the inflation path for the year given the recent exchange rate pressures, upward adjustment in utility tariffs, and increases in export fuel prices.



Ghana&#8217;s consumer inflation slowed last month to 22.8% year on year in June from 23.1% in May, but it remains well above the central bank&#8217;s 8% target with a margin of error of 2 percentage points either side.



Finance minister Mohammed Amin Adam said on Tuesday the West African nation would be able to reach the target for the year of 15% by the end of 2024, adding that its economy was rebounding faster than expected.



&#8220;The central bank is clearly reacting to the stalling disinflation during the first half of 2024, which has put both its short- and medium-term inflation targets at risk,&#8221; said Leslie Dwight Mensah, economist and research fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies in Accra.



&#8220;The decision has also been made with an eye on the cedi exchange rate, which has had a bad run in recent months and remains prone to depreciation given the economy&#8217;s limited foreign financing options,&#8221; Mensah said.



The West African cocoa, gold and oil producer has been restructuring its $30 billion debt in an attempt to emerge from its worst economic crisis in a generation.



Central bank governor Addison said economic activity in Ghana remained resilient in the context of a generally tight policy stance.



Ghana&#8217;s trade balance improved in the first half of the year, driven by higher exports of gold and crude oil, he said.



Strong gold output, and soaring prices helped Ghana earn more from the precious metal in the first half of 2024.



&#8220;The value of gold exports increased by 46.4% to $5.04 billion, while earnings from crude oil increased to $2 billion from $1.7 billion in the same period last year,&#8221; Addison said.



(Reporting by Christian Akorlie, additonal reporting by Maxwell Akalaare Adombila Writing by Anait MiridzhanianEditing by Bate Felix, William Maclean and Ros Russell)

People walk past the Bank of Ghana in Accra

Bank of Ghana keeps main rate unchanged over inflation concerns

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="576" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/OHD5J7KDHJJKBG6Q7MD3YOK36E-820x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-425778" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/OHD5J7KDHJJKBG6Q7MD3YOK36E-820x576.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/OHD5J7KDHJJKBG6Q7MD3YOK36E-300x211.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/OHD5J7KDHJJKBG6Q7MD3YOK36E-128x90.jpg 128w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/OHD5J7KDHJJKBG6Q7MD3YOK36E-768x540.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/OHD5J7KDHJJKBG6Q7MD3YOK36E-1536x1079.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/OHD5J7KDHJJKBG6Q7MD3YOK36E-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">FILE PHOTO: Nigeria&#8217;s President Bola Tinubu waves to a crowd as he takes the traditional ride on top of a ceremonial vehicle, after his swearing-in ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria May 29, 2023. REUTERS/Temilade Adelaja/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



ABUJA, July 26 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Nigeria plans to issue a diaspora bond of up to $500 million, its Finance Minister Olawale Edun said, as part of its strategy to stabilise and grow the economy.



The domestic dollar-denominated bond, set for issuance in the third quarter, aims to attract investment from Nigerians living abroad and those with savings held overseas, but also to demonstrate the strength and resilience of the economy amidst ongoing economic reforms.



Nigeria&#8217;s move to issue the securities comes in the wake of ongoing reforms by President Bola Tinubu, which have seen significant strides including a projected budget deficit of 4% this year, Edun said in a statement late on Thursday.



Since taking office a little over a year ago, Tinubu has instituted landmark reforms cheered by investors, including slashing costly petrol and electricity subsidies and twice devaluing the naira currency with a year.



Edun said the reforms, and the issuance of securities as an integral part of them, represent a concerted push by the government to boost inclusive growth, potentially lifting millions out of poverty while attracting domestic and foreign investments.



(Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

FILE PHOTO: Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu waves to a crowd as he takes the traditional ride on top of a ceremonial vehicle after his swearing-in ceremony in Abuja

Nigeria to launch $500 million diaspora bond in economic growth push

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-924883576-1-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422955" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-924883576-1-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-924883576-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-924883576-1-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-924883576-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-924883576-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/GettyImages-924883576-1-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Uganda shillings. Uganda. (Photo by: Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>



KAMPALA, July 26 (Reuters) &#8211; The Ugandan shilling was steady on Friday, but was expected to weaken on the back of increased demand for dollars from commercial banks, traders said.



At 0813 GMT, commercial banks quoted the shilling at 3,735/3,745, compared with Thursday&#8217;s closing rate of 3,732/3,742.



(Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by George Obulutsa)

GettyImages-924883576-1

Ugandan shilling stable; to ease due to commercial bank FX demand

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="720" height="425" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ANCK25OQIFMHTJYACOM5XU5T24.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-498541" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ANCK25OQIFMHTJYACOM5XU5T24.jpg 720w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ANCK25OQIFMHTJYACOM5XU5T24-300x177.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/ANCK25OQIFMHTJYACOM5XU5T24-152x90.jpg 152w" sizes="(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Kenya shilling coins and notes are pictured inside a cashier&#8217;s booth at a forex exchange bureau in Kenya&#8217;s capital Nairobi, April 20, 2016. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



NAIROBI, July 26 (Reuters) &#8211; Kenya&#8217;s shilling gained ground on Friday, helped by dollar inflows from tea exporters, trader said.



At 0808 GMT, commercial banks quoted the shilling at 131.50/132.50, compared with Thursday&#8217;s closing rate of 132.50/133.50.



The central bank has also sold dollars during the week, traders said, helping to support the shilling.



(Reporting by George Obulutsa; Editing by Duncan Miriri)

ANCK25OQIFMHTJYACOM5XU5T24

Kenya shilling firms, tea export dollar inflows help

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="929" height="523" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/108009036-1721398542475-gettyimages-2162004949-AA_19072024_1780984.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-511432" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/108009036-1721398542475-gettyimages-2162004949-AA_19072024_1780984.jpeg 929w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/108009036-1721398542475-gettyimages-2162004949-AA_19072024_1780984-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/108009036-1721398542475-gettyimages-2162004949-AA_19072024_1780984-820x462.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/108009036-1721398542475-gettyimages-2162004949-AA_19072024_1780984-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/108009036-1721398542475-gettyimages-2162004949-AA_19072024_1780984-768x432.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 929px) 100vw, 929px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The blue screen of death errors on computer screens are viewed due to the global communications outage caused by CrowdStrike, which provides cyber security services to US technology company Microsoft, on July 19, 2024 in Ankara, Turkey.  Harun Ozalp | Anadolu | Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz said that over 97% of Windows sensors are back online after an update from the cybersecurity firm caused one of the world’s biggest IT outages.



“To our customers still affected, please know we will not rest until we achieve full recovery,” Kurtz said in a LinkedIn post on Thursday.



Last week, CrowdStrike issued a routine update to its users around the world — which mainly comprise large businesses — that had a bug which caused Microsoft’s Windows operating system to crash.



Many users woke up on Friday to a blue screen error on Windows. The IT outage sparked chaos around the world, with flights being cancelled, businesses closing early and even medical staff scrambling to keep operations running.



CrowdStrike rolled back the update to fix the issue.



The company’s share price has been hammered since the incident, as CEO Kurtz looks to contain the reputational fallout.



“I am deeply sorry for the disruption this outage has caused and personally apologize to everyone impacted. While I can’t promise perfection, I can promise a response that is focused, effective, and with a sense of urgency,” he wrote on LinkedIn.



To apologize for the incident, CrowdStrike sent Uber Eats gift cards to “teammates and partners who have been helping customers through this situation,” a company spokesperson told CNBC.



TechCrunch previously reported the news and added that some people were having trouble using the gift card.



“Uber flagged it as fraud because of high usage rates,” a CrowdStrike spokesperson said.

108009036-1721398542475-gettyimages-2162004949-AA_19072024_1780984

CrowdStrike CEO says 97% of Windows sensors back online after major outage

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="728" height="444" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/UXGWX6XZO5LIROPXQDLPV6SPGA.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422268" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/UXGWX6XZO5LIROPXQDLPV6SPGA.jpg 728w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/UXGWX6XZO5LIROPXQDLPV6SPGA-300x183.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/UXGWX6XZO5LIROPXQDLPV6SPGA-148x90.jpg 148w" sizes="(max-width: 728px) 100vw, 728px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">South African Rand coins are seen in this illustration picture taken October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings</figcaption></figure>



JOHANNESBURG, July 26 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The South African rand gained in early trade on Friday, as markets focused on a key U.S. inflation reading that could offer more cues on the Federal Reserve&#8217;s future interest rate path.



At 0730 GMT, the rand traded at 18.26 against the dollar, about 0.6% stronger than its previous close.



The U.S. personal consumption expenditure data for June &#8211; the Fed&#8217;s favoured measure of inflation &#8211; is due later on Friday and could give hints on the timing of interest rate cuts in the world&#8217;s biggest economy.



Data out of the U.S. on Thursday showed that the economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter, but inflation pressures subsided, leaving intact expectations of a September rate cut.



Like other risk-sensitive currencies, the rand often takes cues from global drivers such as U.S. economic data and monetary policy in addition to local factors.



On the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the blue-chip Top-40 index was little changed in early trade.



South Africa&#8217;s benchmark 2030 government bond was slightly stronger in early deals, as the yield slipped 2.3 basis points to 9.452%.



(Reporting by Tannur Anders; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

South African Rand coins are seen in this illustration picture

South African rand gains, focus on US inflation data

<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="(max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance</figcaption></figure>



NAIROBI, July 26 (Reuters) &#8211; The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Friday.



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



*Ghana&#8217;s central bank is due to announce its latest benchmark lending rate decision.



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



The yen stabilized near a 12-week high against the dollar on Friday while Asia-Pacific equity markets remained on the back foot a day after their worst session since mid-April.



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



Oil prices rose slightly on Friday but remained on track for a third straight week of decline due to weak demand in China, the world&#8217;s largest crude importer, and expectations of a ceasefire deal for the Gaza war and related violence in the Middle East.



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



The South African rand strengthened against a weaker dollar on Thursday, after U.S. economic data readings left intact expectations of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-africa-economy">AFRICA ECONOMY</h2>



Inflation in key sub-Saharan African economies is unlikely to slow to targets even after recent aggressive interest rate hikes as central banks look to reverse those increases, a Reuters poll found.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-africa-currencies">AFRICA CURRENCIES</h2>



Kenyan and Ugandan shilling are expected to be stable against the dollar in the next week to Thursday, while Ghana&#8217;s cedi and Zambia&#8217;s kwacha are seen weakening and Nigeria&#8217;s naira could strengthen, traders said.



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



Kenya&#8217;s shilling was stable on Thursday, but could to come under pressure due to offshore dollar demand, while any sales by the central bank could give it a boost, traders said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kenya-politics">KENYA POLITICS</h2>



Kenyan police detained several people on Thursday who attempted to present a petition to the president&#8217;s office and lay flowers to honour those killed a month ago on the most violent day of anti-government protests, protesters said.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-zimbabwe-budget">ZIMBABWE BUDGET</h2>



Zimbabwe&#8217;s 2024 budget deficit is forecast to be 1.3% of gross domestic product, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said on Thursday, but warned that concerns remained over the impact of a drought on finances



((Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom))

World map with charts and graphs as symbols of global finance

African Markets – Factors to watch on July 26

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="612" height="408" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1076949610-612x612-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-400697" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1076949610-612x612-1.jpg 612w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/istockphoto-1076949610-612x612-1-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 612px) 100vw, 612px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Double exposure of coin stack with city background and world map, financial graph, world map and global network business concept idea, element by NASA.</figcaption></figure>



JOHANNESBURG, July 26 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;The following economic event, equity and currency market moves may affect South African markets on Friday.



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



South Africa&#8217;s government will hold its weekly auction of inflation-linked bonds.



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



The South African rand strengthened against a weaker dollar on Thursday, after U.S. economic data readings left intact expectations of an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve in September.



On the stock market, the Top-40 index closed 0.12% higher.



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



The yen stabilized near a 12-week high against the dollar on Friday while Asia-Pacific equity markets remained on the back foot a day after their worst session since mid-April.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wall-street">WALL STREET</h2>



The S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq Composite ended a fickle session weaker on Thursday, failing to regain ground lost in the previous day&#8217;s tech-triggered sell-off as investors grappled with the likely direction of megacaps.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-gold">GOLD</h2>



Gold was on track for a weekly loss, even as prices firmed on Friday ahead of a key U.S. inflation reading that could offer more cues on when the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates.



&#8211; &#8211; &#8211; &#8211;



Some of the main stories out in the South African press:



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-business-day">BUSINESS DAY</h2>



&#8211; SA banks face nearly R1-trillion exposure to energy transition risks



&#8211; SA pushes for relaxation of Agoa eligibility criteria



(Compiled by Tannur Anders)

istockphoto-1076949610-612×612-1

South African Markets -Factors to watch on July 26

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2048" height="1366" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/107418094-1716321352537-gettyimages-2153474140-AFP_34TH9TC-scaled.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-511392" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/107418094-1716321352537-gettyimages-2153474140-AFP_34TH9TC-scaled.jpeg 2048w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/107418094-1716321352537-gettyimages-2153474140-AFP_34TH9TC-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/107418094-1716321352537-gettyimages-2153474140-AFP_34TH9TC-820x547.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/107418094-1716321352537-gettyimages-2153474140-AFP_34TH9TC-135x90.jpeg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/107418094-1716321352537-gettyimages-2153474140-AFP_34TH9TC-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/107418094-1716321352537-gettyimages-2153474140-AFP_34TH9TC-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: via CNBC</figcaption></figure>



OpenAI on Thursday announced a prototype of its search engine, called SearchGPT, which aims to give users “fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources.”



The company said it eventually plans to integrate the tool, which is currently being tested with a small group of users, into its ChatGPT chatbot.



The rollout could have implications for Google and its dominant search engine. Since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022, Alphabet investors have been concerned that OpenAI could take market share from Google in search by giving consumers new ways to seek information online. 



With this prototype, OpenAI is testing the waters for doing just that, promising users the chance to “search in a more natural, intuitive way” and ask follow-up questions “just like you would in a conversation.”



“We think there is room to make search much better than it is today,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote Thursday in a post on X.



Alphabet shares fell more than 3% on Thursday to close at $167.28, while the Nasdaq was down less than 1%.



In May, Google launched AI Overview, which CEO Sundar Pichai called the biggest change in search in 25 years, to a limited audience, allowing users to see a summary of answers to queries at the very top of Google Search.



Though Google had been working on AI Overview for more than a year, public criticism mounted after  users quickly noticed that queries returned nonsensical or inaccurate results within the AI feature — without any way to opt out.



“Google has been kind of shaking in their boots a little bit since this stuff first popped off,” said Daniel Faggella, founder and head of research at Emerj Artificial Intelligence Research, referring to generative artificial intelligence. “We haven’t seem their company crumble in the interim, but we have seen them kind of fumble.”&nbsp;



The SearchGPT announcement follows OpenAI’s launch last Thursday of a new AI model, “GPT-4o mini.” The new model is an offshoot of GPT-4o, the startup’s fastest and most powerful model to date, which it launched in May during a livestreamed event with executives. 



OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, has been valued at more than $80 billion by investors. The company, founded in 2015, is under pressure to stay on top of the generative AI market while finding ways to make money as it spends massive sums on processors and infrastructure to build and train its models.



Last Month, OpenAI announced the hiring of two top executives as well as a partnership with Apple that includes a ChatGPT-Siri integration. Sarah Friar, previously CEO of Nextdoor and finance chief at Square, joined as chief financial officer, and Kevin Weil, an ex-president at Planet Labs and former senior vice president at Twitter and a vice president at Facebook and Instagram, joined as chief product officer.



OpenAI is bolstering its C-suite as its large language models gain importance across the tech sector and as competition rapidly emerges in the burgeoning generative AI market.&nbsp;



Both OpenAI’s new mini AI model and the prototype of SearchGPT are also part of the company’s push to be at the forefront of “multimodality,” or the ability to offer a wide range of types of AI-generated media, like text, images, audio, video and search, inside one tool: ChatGPT.



For SearchGPT, OpenAI’s blog post said the tool’s visual results will lead to “richer understanding” for users.



Last year, OpenAI Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap told CNBC, “The world is multimodal.” He added that as humans “engage with the world, we see things, we hear things, we say things,” so limiting interactions to text is insufficient.

107418094-1716321352537-gettyimages-2153474140-AFP_34TH9TC

OpenAI announces a search engine called SearchGPT; Alphabet shares dip

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/108004882-1720728328098-gettyimages-2161665996-economy451659_szz6uf7k.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-511374" style="width:840px;height:auto" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/108004882-1720728328098-gettyimages-2161665996-economy451659_szz6uf7k.jpeg 1920w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/108004882-1720728328098-gettyimages-2161665996-economy451659_szz6uf7k-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/108004882-1720728328098-gettyimages-2161665996-economy451659_szz6uf7k-820x461.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/108004882-1720728328098-gettyimages-2161665996-economy451659_szz6uf7k-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/108004882-1720728328098-gettyimages-2161665996-economy451659_szz6uf7k-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/108004882-1720728328098-gettyimages-2161665996-economy451659_szz6uf7k-1536x864.jpeg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: via CNBC</figcaption></figure>



Economic activity in the U.S. was considerably stronger than expected during the second quarter, boosted by a strong consumer, government spending and a sizeable inventory build, according to an initial estimate Thursday from the Commerce Department.



Real gross domestic product, a measure of all the goods and services produced during the April-through-June period, increased at a 2.8% annualized pace adjusted for seasonality and inflation. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had been looking for growth of 2.1% following a 1.4% rise in the first quarter.



Consumer spending helped propel the growth number higher, as did contributions from private inventory investment and nonresidential fixed investment, according to the first of three estimates the department will provide.



Personal consumption expenditures, the main proxy in the Bureau of Economic Analysis report for consumer activity, increased 2.3% for the quarter, up from the 1.5% acceleration in Q1. Both services and goods spending saw solid increases for the quarter.



Inventories also were a significant contributor, adding 0.82 percentage point to the total gain. Government spending added a tailwind as well, rising 3.9% at the federal level, including a 5.2% surge in defense outlays.



On the downside, imports, which subtract from GDP, jumped 6.9%, the biggest quarterly rise since Q1 of 2022. Exports were up just 2%.



Stock market futures drifted higher following the report while Treasury yields moved lower.



“The composition of growth was one of the better mixes that we have observed in some time,” said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM. The report “tends to support the idea that the American economy is in the midst of a productivity boom which over the medium term will lift living standards across the country via lower inflation, low employment and rising real wages.”



There was some good news on the inflation front: the personal consumption expenditures price index, a key measure for the Federal Reserve, increased 2.6% for the quarter, down from the 3.4% move in Q1. Excluding food and energy, core PCE prices, which the Fed focuses on even more as a longer-term inflation indicator, were up 2.9%, compared to a 3.7% increase in the prior period.



The so-called chain-weighted price index, which takes into account changes in consumer behavior, increased 2.3% for the quarter, below the 2.6% estimate.



Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen saw the GDP report as “affirming the path we’re on to steady growth and declining inflation,” in remarks she delivered Thursday morning in Rio de Janeiro.



One other key variable, final sales to private domestic purchasers, which the Fed considers a good indicator of underlying demand, accelerated at a 2.6% pace, the same as in the prior quarter.



However, the report also indicated that the personal savings rate continues to decelerate, at 3.5% for the quarter, compared with 3.8% in Q1.



There have been signs of cracks lately in the consumer picture.



A report Wednesday from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve showed credit card delinquencies at an all-time high according to data going back to 2012. Revolving debt balances also reached a new high even as banks reported tightening credit standards and declining new card originations.



However, retail sales numbers have continued to climb indicating that consumers are weathering the headwinds of high interest rates and persistent inflation.



There also is pressure in the housing market: Sales are declining while home prices continue to rise, putting stress on first-time homebuyers.



Federal Reserve officials are expected to hold interest rates steady when they meet next week, though market pricing is pointing to the first cut in four years in September. Policymakers have been circumspect about when they might start reducing rates, though recent comments indicate more of a willingness to start easing policy and most central bankers have said they see further increases as unlikely.



In other economic news Thursday, the Labor Department reported that initial jobless claims totaled 235,000 for the week ended July 20, down 10,000 from the previous week and exactly in line with the Dow Jones forecast. Continuing claims, which run a week behind, edged lower to 1.85 million.



Also, orders for durable goods — generally big-ticket items such as aircraft, appliances and computers — unexpectedly fell 6.6% in June, compared with the forecast for a 0.3% increase. However, excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.5%.

108004882-1720728328098-gettyimages-2161665996-economy451659_szz6uf7k

U.S. economy grew at a 2.8% pace in the second quarter, much more than expected

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="571" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-699242978-820x571.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-511175" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-699242978-820x571.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-699242978-300x209.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-699242978-129x90.jpg 129w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-699242978-768x535.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-699242978-1536x1069.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/GettyImages-699242978-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA JUNE 15: (SOUTH AFRICA OUT) President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) Mandisa Maya opens up during an interview at her offices on June 15, 2017 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Maya is the first female to occupy the post of President of the SCA in South Africa. (Photo by Gallo Images / The Times / Simphiwe Nkwali)</figcaption></figure>



JOHANNESBURG, July 25 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday named Mandisa Maya as the first female chief justice, effective on Sept. 1, following consultations with the Judicial Service Commission.



This is a significant milestone for the country, the presidency said in a statement.



Maya, the current deputy chief justice, will replace Raymond Zondo, whose term ends on Aug. 31.



This is a developing story&#8230;



(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Kevin Liffey and Richard Chang)

Close up with Supreme Court of Appeal head Mandisa Maya

South Africa appoints first woman chief justice

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="615" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/48085890627_1aed377e0b_k-820x615-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-511113" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/48085890627_1aed377e0b_k-820x615-1.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/48085890627_1aed377e0b_k-820x615-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/48085890627_1aed377e0b_k-820x615-1-120x90.jpg 120w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/48085890627_1aed377e0b_k-820x615-1-768x576.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photos: via Flickr</figcaption></figure>



July 25 (Reuters) &#8211; Malawi&#8217;s central bank kept its benchmark lending rate unchanged at 26.0% in a decision announced on Thursday.



(Reporting by Bhargav Acharya; writing by Tannur Anders; editing by Mark Heinrich)

48085890627_1aed377e0b_k-820×615

Malawi central bank keeps main interest rate unchanged at 26%

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="619" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/YCWFEE2J3NLKPHC3NQ2YRVFRB4-820x619.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-511102" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/YCWFEE2J3NLKPHC3NQ2YRVFRB4-820x619.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/YCWFEE2J3NLKPHC3NQ2YRVFRB4-300x227.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/YCWFEE2J3NLKPHC3NQ2YRVFRB4-119x90.jpg 119w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/YCWFEE2J3NLKPHC3NQ2YRVFRB4-768x580.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/YCWFEE2J3NLKPHC3NQ2YRVFRB4-1536x1160.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/YCWFEE2J3NLKPHC3NQ2YRVFRB4-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">FILE PHOTO &#8211; Zimbabwean Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube looks on before the swearing in of new cabinet ministers at State House in Harare, Zimbabwe, September 10, 2018. REUTERS/Philimon Bulawayo</figcaption></figure>



HARARE, July 25 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Zimbabwe&#8217;s 2024 budget deficit is forecast to be 1.3% of gross domestic product, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said on Thursday,but warned that concerns remained over the impact of a drought on finances.



The finance ministry projected 2024 growth at 2% earlier this month, down from 3.5% forecast in November, as southern Africa suffers its worst drought in decades.



In his midterm budget review, Ncube told lawmakers that the agriculture sector was now projected to contract by 21.2%, against a contraction of 4.9% in November, due to the drought.



Ncube added that spending priorities for the remainder of the year could change as the government takes stock of the impact of the drought on food security and water.



In April, the southern African nation introduced its new gold-backed currency, Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), its sixth attempt at a domestic currency in 15 years.



&#8220;Since the introduction of the ZiG currency, the economy is experiencing relatively stable prices and exchange rate,&#8221; Ncube said, adding that inflation had remained stable in the two months since its introduction.



Zimbabweans however have been slow to adopt the new currency, opting instead to continue trading in foreign currency, mainly US dollars.



Ncube introduced revised tax proposals which he says will encourage greater use of the currency, including changes to corporate taxes and making some domestic taxes only payable in local currency.



(Reporting by Nyasha Chingono in Harare and Kopano Gumbi in Johannesburg, additional reporting by Tannur Anders and Bhargav Acharya, writing by Kopano Gumbi, editing by Mark Heinrich and Bernadette Baum)

FILE PHOTO – Zimbabwean Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube looks on before the swearing in of new cabinet ministers at State House in Harare

Zimbabwe’s 2024 budget deficit seen at 1.3% of GDP, finmin says

How Paris Pulled Off One Of The Cheapest Olympics

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="573" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CQVBUS4TCRKRPKTBUCLDNRK4CM-820x573.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-511082" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CQVBUS4TCRKRPKTBUCLDNRK4CM-820x573.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CQVBUS4TCRKRPKTBUCLDNRK4CM-300x210.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CQVBUS4TCRKRPKTBUCLDNRK4CM-129x90.jpg 129w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CQVBUS4TCRKRPKTBUCLDNRK4CM-768x537.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CQVBUS4TCRKRPKTBUCLDNRK4CM-1536x1074.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CQVBUS4TCRKRPKTBUCLDNRK4CM-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">FILE PHOTO: Solar panels are seen near the cooling towers of a retired coal-fired Komati Power Station, operated by Eskom, near Komati village, in the Mpumalanga province in South Africa, May 9, 2024. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo</figcaption></figure>



JOHANNESBURG, July 25 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;South Africa, the world&#8217;s 14th biggest carbon emitter, has made strong commitments to climate action but is moving too slowly to wean itself off coal and roll out renewables to meet them, a key report said on Thursday.



Africa&#8217;s most industrialised country has been lauded for making ambitious pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions &#8211; which are higher even than far richer nations like France, Britain and Italy &#8211; and for producing a comprehensive plan to achieve them.



&#8220;Despite all the strong public support and policy commitments, we&#8217;ve got a huge discrepancy between that and what&#8217;s actually happening,&#8221; Melissa Fourie, one of the authors of the Presidential Climate Commission report, said at its launch in the commercial capital Johannesburg.



The report, commissioned by the president&#8217;s office but independent, said a more than six-fold increase in the pace of renewables buildout was needed.



Several countries&#8217; actions globally are lagging behind their pledges.



President Cyril Ramaphosa signed a sweeping climate change act into law this week that set caps for large emitters.



Donors are providing $12 billion of mostly loans to fund South Africa&#8217;s energy transition, a model they hope to export elsewhere in the developing world.



At the same time, the country has been firing up its coal burners to end years of power shortages. Last year, officials backtracked on pledges to shut down eight coal-fired power stations and have admitted South Africa will not meet its 2030 targets.



The report said total renewable capacity in South Africa was 10.4 gigawatts (GW) in 2022, growing by 1 GW per year since 2015. To meet net zero by 2050, however, it would need between 190 GW and 390 GW, requiring between 6 GW and 14 GW per year.



The report blamed &#8220;contradictory public policies &#8230; particularly regarding the future of the energy



sector,&#8221; adding: &#8220;The lack of consensus about the pace of the coal phaseout is delaying the &#8230; the transition&#8221;.



It added that investment was far below what was required, with 131 billion rand ($7.09 billion) a year being committed, against the 334 billion to 535 billion needed.



($1 = 18.4799 rand)



(Reporting by Tim Cocks; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

FILE PHOTO: South Africa’s ANC walks political tight rope over coal plant shutdowns

South Africa’s climate action too slow to meet its bold pledges, says report

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1254" height="836" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Stock-value-rising-and-falling.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-404443" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Stock-value-rising-and-falling.jpg 1254w, 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-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Stock-value-rising-and-falling-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1254px) 100vw, 1254px" /><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>



July 25 (Reuters)&nbsp;&#8211;&nbsp;Stocks in most developing markets dropped to more than a one-month low on Thursday, as risk taking took a dive after a surprise interest rate decision out of China, while Ukraine bond yields ticked up following a credit rating downgrade.



MSCI&#8217;s index tracking equities across emerging markets dropped 0.6% on track for its ninth day of declines out of ten, but still hanging onto gains of over 4% year-to-date.



A currencies gauge edged up 0.2% against a softer dollar, with markets awaiting economic growth data out of the U.S. later in the day.



The People&#8217;s bank of China (PBOC) surprised markets for a second time this week with an unscheduled lending operation at steeply lower rates, in a heavier effort to prop the economy, which spooked investors and sent China stocks lower by 0.5% each.



China&#8217;s offshore yuan, however, firmed to levels seen last in early May, while bond yields across the curve were flat.



&#8220;The PBOC is trying to shore-up sluggish Chinese economic activity. However, until China deals with its huge debt overhang (total debt is more than 300% of GDP), the country looks set for weaker growth in the years ahead,&#8221; said Elias Haddad, senior markets strategist at Brown Brothers Harriman.



Indian equities continued their decline for the fifth straight day, with the indexes on track for their first weekly losses since late May after equity trading tax hikes earlier in the week.



The capital gains tax revisions sparked a selloff with data showing foreign investors offloaded nearly $1 billion worth of equities in the two days since the budget announcement.



South Africa&#8217;s rand depreciated 0.8%, tracking a weakness in precious metal prices, a top export item from the country.



In central and eastern Europe, Hungary&#8217;s forint weakened for the third-straight day by 0.1% to a two-week low on expectations of more monetary policy easing after an interest rate cut earlier in the week. Concerns also remain as the country struggles with the largest debt in the region.



An index tracking stocks in central and eastern Europe also slid 1.5% to a more than one month low.



Investors monitored ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which U.S. officials said were appearing to be in their closing stages. The shekel was flat.



Elsewhere, Ukraine&#8217;s central bank was due to announce an interest rate decision.



Yields on dollar bonds ticked up 28 basis points (bps) as ratings agency Fitch downgraded the war-torn country&#8217;s credit rating further into default territory, citing a recently concluded in-principle agreement with a group of creditors to restructure $20 billion of international bonds.



(Reporting by Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; editing by Philippa Fletcher)

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How China Took Over Indonesia’s Nickel Industry To Fuel Its EVs

Bank of Ghana keeps main rate unchanged over inflation concerns

Nigeria to launch $500 million diaspora bond in economic growth push

Ugandan shilling stable; to ease due to commercial bank FX demand

Kenya shilling firms, tea export dollar inflows help

CrowdStrike CEO says 97% of Windows sensors back online after major outage

South African rand gains, focus on US inflation data

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South African Markets -Factors to watch on July 26

OpenAI announces a search engine called SearchGPT; Alphabet shares dip

U.S. economy grew at a 2.8% pace in the second quarter, much more than expected

South Africa appoints first woman chief justice

Malawi central bank keeps main interest rate unchanged at 26%

Zimbabwe’s 2024 budget deficit seen at 1.3% of GDP, finmin says

How Paris Pulled Off One Of The Cheapest Olympics

South Africa’s climate action too slow to meet its bold pledges, says report

Stocks slide to more than one-month low; China, Ukraine in focus

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