Despite a recent surge in inflation and exchange rate volatility, the prospects for Tanzanian banks are bright. With the country growing fast, banks are looking to exploit its large unbanked population and start offering more sophisticated products.
How do you solve a problem like Libor?
August 1, 2012Libor has come under huge scrutiny since Barclays was fined for manipulating it. While few bankers believe it can be replaced, even its staunchest supporters say it needs to be reformed. But it is not obvious how.
Ghana's finance minster: there is no virtue in irresponsible fiscal management
July 2, 2012Having overseen rapid economic growth in the past three years, Ghana’s finance minister insists his government will maintain fiscal discipline before December’s elections. However, he believes fuel subsidies should remain in place, at least for now.
Ghana's banks hope to dodge interest rate woes
July 2, 2012Ghanaian banks are worried that rising interest rates and a depreciating currency could lead to a lot of volatility in the next few months. Nonetheless, they remain in good health and are likely to benefit in the coming years from the country’s rapid economic growth.
Ghana's sound fundamentals untainted by falling cedi
July 2, 2012Ghana has been hurt by the weakness of its currency since late last year. Yet its economy, one of the fastest-growing in the world, is still in rude health, and investors are said to be increasingly bullish about the country, even if they are hindered by shallow capital markets.
African banks hit by weak currencies, but Angolans march on
July 2, 2012Standard Bank remains Africa's largest lender, though its position has been weakened by the South African rand's poor performance against the US dollar.
Trading incomes drop heavily at world’s biggest banks
July 1, 2012Many of the world's largest banks have seen their trading income fall in 2011, with only two – Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan – avoiding this fate.
Ghana confident in its democratic credentials
June 19, 2012Ghana has been a bastion of stability in a volatile west Africa for the past 20 years. It will have a chance to reassert its credentials in elections later this year and most analysts think it will succeed, despite political rhetoric becoming more heated in recent months.
Nigeria targets building Africa’s dominant IFC
June 1, 2012Given the size of its economy and the rapid pace at which it is growing, Nigeria has a good chance of establishing an international financial centre to rival Johannesburg – Africa's only IFC. The west African country is already close to creating the legal framework necessary, but overcoming the negative perceptions of many international banks will prove a tricky obstacle to overcome.
Oil hedging on the rise
June 1, 2012Airline companies used to be one of the only markets that hedged their exposure to oil. But with the steep rise in crude prices over the past five years, many more firms are following suit, and now sovereigns in emerging markets are doing the same.