Only One Country Needed to Realise Africa Single Market
March 26, 2019--Ethiopia last week ratified the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), leaving only one more ratification for it to take effect.
Twenty-two ratifications are required for the agreement to enter into force and so far 21 countries have ratified their instruments.
Since the March 2018 AU Summit in Kigali when the continental pact was launched and signed by 44 states, eight more---South Africa, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Burundi, Namibia, Guinea Bissau, Botswana and Zambia ---have signed. Only Eritrea, Benin, Nigeria and Tanzania remain.
This is the price context driving the recent performance of Standard Bank's rhodium and palladium ETFs which have been, respectively, the first and second-best performing ETFs in South Africa for two years in a row. view more
How mobile money can lead a fintech revolution in Africa The use of mobile money has grown exponentially over the past 10 years, making the region the global leader in mobile money innovation, adoption, and usage. M-Pesa services are now offered in countries as diverse as Albania, D.R. Congo, Egypt, Ghana, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Romania, and Tanzania. view more
Markets WRAP: Rand closes at R14.37/$
ECA-Economic Report on Africa 2019-
Fiscal Policy for Financing Sustainable Development in Africa view the
Rand clings to gains despite ongoing load shedding
Markets WRAP: Rand closes at R14.46/$
Rand makes gains on Fed's dovish comments
Palladium tops $1 600 as metal sets new highs on supply shortage
In fact, the US dollar price of both palladium and rhodium has increased by 40% and 84%, respectively, since January 2018, and 117% and 310% over the two years since January 2017.
Source: etfstrategy.com
If you are reading this blog-drawn by current buzz around financial technology and the "fintech" reference in the title, and its promise to democratize financial services-then it is probably a safe bet to assume that you have heard of M-Pesa.
This mobile payments system started in Kenya in 2007 now boasts 30 million users in 10 countries, with other competitors, such as MTN Money and Orange Money, also operating around the continent.
Source: World Economic Forum
March 25, 2019--TreasuryONE said earlier that emerging market currencies had weakened, led by Turkey's lira and the rand.
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Source: FIN24
March 23, 2019--African countries need to grow their economies faster if they are to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by the target date of 2030, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) says in its annual report.
The SDGs can be achieved by carrying out comprehensive macroeconomic reforms to build resilience, raise potential growth and improve inclusiveness, says the Economic Report on Africa (ERA), released today in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Source: Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
March 22, 2019--"While Eskom continues with rolling blackouts that will see the rally in the rand under pressure, their intensity has been reduced," says Peregrine Treasury Solutions's Bianca Botes.
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Source: FIN24
March 22, 2019--The rand ended the day at R14.46/$, as uncertainty in the markets impacted emerging market currencies.
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Source: FIN24
March 21, 2019--The rand gained 1.9% against the US dollar on Wednesday, following the US Federal Reserve Bank's announcement to keep rates on hold.
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Source: FIN24
March 20, 2019--The price of the metal-mainly used in autocatalysts in gasoline vehicles-has almost doubled from a recent low in August.
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Source: FIN24