African Markets - Factors to watch on Feb 15

Kitco Media
By Reuters
Published:
Updated:
Reuters
NAIROBI, Feb 15 (Reuters) - The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Wednesday. - - - - - EVENTS: Nigeria's Supreme Court will hear a challenge to the central bank's plan to swap old bank notes for new ones in a bid to curb cash in circulation and control double-digit inflation.


Ghana Statistical Services releases monthly consumer inflation data


GLOBAL MARKETS Asian stocks slipped while the U.S. dollar was steadfast on Wednesday, following U.S. inflation data and remarks from central bank officials that have investors worrying interest rates are going to be higher for longer. WORLD OIL PRICES Oil prices extends losses on Wednesday as a much bigger-than-expected surge in the U.S. crude inventories and expectations of further interest rate hikes sparked concerns over the prospect of weaker fuel demand and economic recession. EMERGING MARKETS For the top emerging markets news, double click on AFRICA STOCKS For the latest news on South African stocks, click on SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS


The South African rand firmed on Tuesday against the U.S. dollar, which fell to a roughly two-week low after data showed U.S. inflation rose at its slowest pace in 16 months.


KENYA MARKETS


The Kenyan shilling hit a fresh low on Tuesday as dollar demand from the oil sector outpaced thin foreign-currency supply, traders said.


CAMEROON HEALTH


Cameroonian authorities detected two suspected cases of Marburg disease on Monday in Olamze, a commune on the border with Equatorial Guinea, the public health delegate for the region, Robert Mathurin Bidjang, said on Tuesday.


GHANA IMF The International Monetary Fund has appointed a Swiss-funded financial supervision adviser to provide technical support to the Bank of Ghana as the West African nation strives to obtain executive board approval for a $3 billion bailout.


GHANA DEBT


Ghana's finance ministry on Tuesday said that around 85% of eligible bondholders had registered for its domestic debt exchange programme, bringing it one step closer to securing a $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.


NIGERIA AVIATION


Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the central bank to increase the amount of foreign currency allocated to Dubai's Emirates, after the airline suspended flights to and from Nigeria because it was unable to repatriate funds.


TELKOM SA RESULTS


South Africa's Telkom TKGJ.J could start the sale of a minority stake in its core fibre business by March, it said on Tuesday, as part of a slew of measures it announced to unlock value and shore up profits, pushing its shares up 7%.


UGANDA RIGHTS


The UN rights office said on Tuesday it was in discussion with Uganda over how to continue its work in the country after the government said it had to leave, a move activists say highlights the country's deteriorating record on civil liberties.


KENYA SECURITY


Kenyan soldiers will join police to fight "rampant incidents of banditry" across the arid northwest that have killed more than 100 civilians and 16 police officers over the past six months, officials said.


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