Sub-Saharan African assets have not been spared by the weakness that has hit ‘risky’ assets across the board, and my colleagues and I do not think that there is much to like financial market-wise in SSA right at this moment. That said, we are firm believers in the region’s longer-term prospects and we think that… [Read more]
Sharp exchange rate depreciation and rising inflationary pressures have been exacerbated by an unpredictable and often contradictory monetary policy by the Central Bank of Kenya. Can recent – admittedly half-hearted – measures to tighten policy prevent further shilling depreciation and reverse the inflationary trend? This week Mark Schaltuper speaks to Sub-Saharan Africa analyst, Matt Searle,… [Read more]
On this week’s Business Monitor Podcast we are joined by Lisa Lewin, Head of Africa Analysis, to hear about her ‘on the ground’ impressions after returning from a trip to Kenya. A burgeoning middle class and growing trade integration among East African nations suggest that several sectors stand to benefit from the highly attractive economic… [Read more]
Mobile banking services present a unique growth opportunity for mobile operators in emerging markets, and have already made good progress in bringing financial services to the previously unbanked populations of many developing countries. The GSM Association reckons that there are over 60 million people worldwide accessing financial services, and this number is set to keep… [Read more]
Having lagged much of the global rally that kicked off in March 2009, Sub-Saharan African equity markets are at long last beginning to perk up. Interestingly, the major markets are also moving with a much greater degree of correlation than in previous years, suggesting that they are creeping onto the collective radar of international investors…. [Read more]
Risk Watchdog is not shy about promoting his views to anyone who will listen. Yesterday, I had the opportunity yesterday to talk to a group of potential exporters to East Africa at an event organised by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry and hosted by Barclays, about why I and my colleagues at Business… [Read more]
Regular readers of RiskWatchdog will recall that back in July, I flagged up the upside potential of several sub-Saharan African currencies. At that time, the units looked well-positioned to appreciate, thanks to rising global risk appetite, bullish technical patterns and the high yields on offer. I am pleased to say that this view has played… [Read more]
