Only one-quarter of the top 20 African banks showed an increase in Tier 1 capital in the The Banker's rankings, as the continent suffered a combination of currency volatility, low commodity prices and political instability. James King reports.
Nigeria was once feted as Africa's leading economy. However, attacks on its oil infrastructure and a dollar liquidity crunch have pushed it into recession. But the government is determined to push through strategies that will revive this regional powerhouse, as James King reports.
Faced with an economic squeeze, Nigeria has devised a masterplan to energise its capital markets. But while major companies are gradually starting to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, low liquidity and inflation are acting as a brake on recovery. Chris Stein reports.
Dr Sarah Alade, deputy governor, economic policy directorate, at the Central Bank of Nigeria, talks to James King about the measures the central bank is taking to boost foreign exchange, how it is mitigating Nigeria's risk from exposure to oil and why the effect of a US rate hike would be muted.
Nigeria's central bank governor, Godwin Emefiele, tells James King that his economic policies, which some have blamed for a decline in manufacturing in the country, encourage foreign exchange flows and improve transparency, and thus investor confidence.
Healthy growth figures and low NPLs are giving Mozambique's banks optimism that they can weather the country's cooling economic climate. It is a view shared by foreign investors who have an eye on its strong long-term prospects, as James King reports.
A series of worrying headlines regarding Mozambique's bond activity and overall economic performance do not portray a country ripe for investment, but factors such as a huge natural gas discovery mean the mood within Maputo and beyond is one of optimism. James King reports.
Technological advances are enabling microfinance providers in Africa to find new ways of doing more business at a lower cost. This, combined with a wave of fintech developments in this sector across the region, is transforming the continent's banking landscape. James King reports.
Post-conflict Angola is seeking to move away from its dependency on oil revenues and develop its other plentiful resources. However, the route is littered with challenges such as long-standing corruption, burgeoning red tape and social inequality, all of which are likely to hinder the government's progress. James King reports.
Falling oil receipts and a foreign exchange crisis have hit Angola’s economy hard. A recent Eurobond issue, a prospective IMF loan and the restructuring of state oil company Sonangol should help the government fund much-needed infrastructure improvements – but any recovery is likely to be slow and hard won. James King reports.
Angola has come through a long civil war, enjoyed a relatively brief boom period, and is now encountering a long-term slump in oil prices. This has led the government to instigate economic reform and support infrastructure improvements to draw investors to the country’s other abundant resources. James King reports.
A dollar liquidity crunch amid regulatory concerns, bad loans and low oil prices have tested Angola’s banks recently. Now central bank moves to tighten rules and a wave of consolidation are shaking up the sector, resulting in survival of only the fittest. James King reports.
Private banks in Algeria have until now been highly profitable, as the energy-rich country was awash with liquidity. But a government that failed to hedge its hydrocarbon wealth against a price drop is now cutting public spending and tightening trade finance rules, driving private banks to rethink their business strategy. Richard Nield reports.