GLOBAL MARKETS Bonds fell and the dollar rose on Thursday as roaring U.S. retail sales had investors reckoning on interest rates staying higher for longer to temper demand, though stock markets were focused on the bright side for earnings and climbed a little. WORLD OIL PRICES Oil prices rose on Thursday as hopes of a robust fuel demand recovery in top oil consumer China offset losses arising from strength in the greenback and a large build in U.S. crude inventory. EMERGING MARKETS For the top emerging markets news, double click on AFRICA STOCKS For the latest news on African stocks, click on SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS
The South African rand weakened against a stronger dollar on Wednesday after domestic inflation figures came in line with expectations.
KENYA MARKETS
The Kenyan shilling lost ground to the dollar on Wednesday as remittances in foreign currency failed to match dollar demand from the oil and manufacturing sectors, traders said.
NIGERIA MILITARY
Two members of the U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday called on President Joe Biden to rescind a nearly $1 billion arms sale to Nigeria following Reuters reports on an illegal abortion program and the targeted killing of children carried out by the Nigerian military.
ETHIOPIA CONFLICT
At least 50 people were killed in Ethiopia's Oromiya region this month in an attack by a banned rebel group, the state-appointed human rights commission said on Wednesday.
CONGO ECONOMY
The Democratic Republic of Congo's GDP growth has been revised upwards to 8.5 percent in 2022 on the back of stronger production in the mining sector, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Wednesday.
GHANA DEBT
A domestic debt exchange implemented by Ghana will "significantly weaken" banks' capitalisation, leading to material shortfalls at some, ratings agency Fitch said on Wednesday.
GHANA TELECOMS
MTN Group MTNJ.J will invest $1 billion in Ghana over the next five years, the mobile operator said on Wednesday, after the government exempted its Ghanaian unit from tax claims worth about $773 million.
ZAMBIA RATES
Zambia's central bank raised its key interest rate on Wednesday for the first time since November 2021, increasing it by 25 basis points to 9.25% as it cited a deteriorating outlook for inflation.
ZIMBABWE DEBT
Zimbabwe's creditors will meet on Feb. 23 as the country takes steps towards clearing more than $6 billion of arrears on its foreign debt, finance minister Mthuli Ncube told Reuters on Wednesday.
NAMIBIA RATES
Namibia's central bank raised its lending rate by 25 basis points to 7.0% on Wednesday, part of its efforts to contain inflation.
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