In the three years since Arunma Oteh was brought in to head Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission and tasked with rebuilding the country's capital markets, much progress has been made. But she still has plenty to do if she wants to fulfil her bold ambitions.
Nigeria’s banking sector has become highly concentrated over the past 10 years, with the biggest five lenders now dominating market share. But executives at smaller firms are not worried. They insist that innovation and nimbleness, not to mention the huge scope for growth in Nigeria, will see them make up for their lack of size.
Eurobond issuance from sub-Saharan Africa is still dwarfed by that from elsewhere in the world. But more and more African sovereigns are tapping the market as investors clamour for exposure to the rapidly growing region, where local bond markets are also developing quickly.
Analysts are predicting a strong showing from Nigeria’s banks as they announce their 2012 results, perhaps demonstrating once and for all that they are over their 2009 crisis. They cannot rest on their laurels, however, as 2013 could be far tougher for them.
Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Nigeria’s central bank governor, says critics of his tight monetary policy forget how unstable the country’s financial system was just three years ago. He also tells The Banker that he will not stand for a second term, saying the job he was tasked with is almost done.
Rwanda’s government faces the prospect of aid being cut in the wake of allegations it supports militants across its border in the Democratic Republic of Congo. But finance minister John Rwangombwa is confident the country’s impressive economic progress in recent years will be sustained.
The central bank governor of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa says that the advantages of the CFA franc’s peg to the euro greatly outweigh the disadvantages, but he believes deeper integration among its six members is needed for them to realise their potential in the long term.
New regulations and resolution and recovery regimes are forcing banks across the world to change their models and strategies. While much is still uncertain, it is clear that how they manage their capital levels and funding will be crucial to determining what business lines they can go into.
South Africa’s capital markets have been resilient amid a surge of negative news emanating from the country following the killing of 34 miners in August. But many bankers say the situation could deteriorate quickly if economic growth does not pick up or if labour unrest is not calmed.
In the past three years, South Africa’s economy has struggled. Its growth is slower than that of many other African countries, and the shooting of 34 miners in August exposed a simmering tension that exists within its boundaries. Yet while there is no quick fix, investors remain attracted by the strength of the country's institutions.
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has come under increasing pressure in the wake of police shooting 34 striking miners in August. But finance minister Pravin Gordhan says his party’s record in government is impressive and that it has done much to develop the country since 1994.
Thanks to shale drilling, the US is brimming with cheap gas and has turned itself into one of the world’s fastest-growing oil producers. Most analysts now expect it to be all but energy independent within 15 years, shattering mainstream assumptions from as recently as five years ago. The implications for global energy markets and geopolitics are profound.
Much has improved in Côte d'Ivoire since president Alassane Ouattara came to power last year, ending months of post-election turmoil. Although some parts of the country remain volatile, most of it is peaceful. And the economy is expanding quickly. The president even thinks its will soon attain double-digit growth.
While the recent discovery of natural gas will certainly boost Mozambique's economy, the country's president, Armando Guebuza, recognises that it will not be enough to pull the country out of poverty and end its reliance on aid. To achieve this, it will be necessary to promote growth in other areas, such as agriculture and tourism, in order to create a more diverse and sustainable economy.
Tanzania's recent discovery of huge natural gas fields has put it firmly in the sight of foreign investors. But Benno Ndulu, its central bank governor, warns that the east African country should not become reliant on hydrocarbons. Instead, it should use them to diversify its economy.