African Markets - Factors to watch on Feb 24

Kitco Media
By Reuters
Published:
Updated:
Reuters
NAIROBI, Feb 24 (Reuters) - The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Friday. - - - - - GLOBAL MARKETS Asian markets breathed a sigh of relief on Friday as the incoming head of Japan's central bank soothed fears of an early end to super-easy monetary policy, nudging bond yields lower globally. WORLD OIL PRICES Oil prices extended gains for a second session on Friday as the prospect of lower exports from Russia offset rising inventories in the United States. 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 edged lower against the U.S. dollar on Thursday, losing all the ground gained in response to the finance minister's budget speech the previous day. AFRICA CURRENCIES Kenya's shilling, Uganda's shilling Ghana's cedi and Zambia's kwacha are expected to weaken against the dollar in the week to Thursday, while Tanzania's and Nigeria's currencies are forecast to hold steady, traders said. NIGERIA ELECTION A Nigerian senatorial candidate from one opposition party and the driver of a campaign minibus belonging to another were killed in a series of coordinated attacks in southeastern Enugu State ahead of an election on Saturday, police said on Thursday. KENYA MARKETS The Kenyan shilling fell on Thursday, undermined by persistent dollar demand across all sectors of the economy although demand was strongest from energy and manufacturing firms, traders said. KENYA AIRLINE Kenya Airways will restart monthly contributions to its staff pension fund which were stopped due to the COVID pandemic, an internal memo showed on Thursday, resolving a key grievance that led to a pilot strike. ETHIOPIA DEBT An informal group of international bondholders has proposed to Ethiopia's government to extend the maturity of the country's $1 billion eurobond issue coming due in 2024, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. ANGOLA ECONOMY The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Thursday it estimated Angola's economy to grow at 3.5% this year, close to the 3.3% growth prediction given by the Angola's central bank in January. IVORY COAST COCOA Ivory Coast's cocoa regulator has restricted 20 major traders, including Cargill and Barry Callebaut, from purchasing beans for export after they reached their buying limits, the head of the Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) said on Thursday. ZIMBABWE DEBT Zimbabwe's president said on Thursday the government was committed to a plan to clear more than $6 billion of external debt arrears which were hindering its access to badly needed international loans. BOTSWANA CENTRAL BANK RATE Botswana's central bank kept its monetary policy rate unchanged at 2.65% on Thursday, saying it expected inflation to fall this year and next. For the latest precious metals report click on For the latest base metals report click on For the latest crude oil report click on (Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom)

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