Latest articles from Paul Wallace

Patrick Chinamasa

Finance minister looks to patch up Zimbabwe

July 1, 2014

Zimbabwe’s economy is on the verge of recession, with low consumer demand and a liquidity crunch putting its businesses under plenty of strain. Against this backdrop, finance minister Patrick Chinamasa tells Paul Wallace how he has started to rebuild its ties with multilateral lenders in a bid to access new credit. 

Top 1000 World Banks – Western European banks mount a comeback

June 30, 2014

Profits are up in the 2014 Top 1000 World Banks ranking, with much of the good news coming from the direction of western Europe. On a regional basis, however, Asia-Pacific still dominates.

Top 1000 World Banks – Emerging market banks perform strongly once again

June 30, 2014

As was the case in 2013 Top 1000 World Banks ranking, when it comes to returns on assets, African banks are the stellar performers.

Top 1000 World Banks – Africa’s biggest banks endure a tough year

June 30, 2014

South Africa's lenders, for so long the shining light in Africa's representation in The Banker's Top 1000 rankings, retain the top spots in the regional list but mostly with falls in their Tier 1 capital. The good news, however, comes from the direction of Morocco's financial institutions.

PTA Bank

PTA's change in fortune

May 23, 2014

PTA Bank, one of Africa’s main development banks, was in crisis at the turn of the millennium. But it has since turned itself around and boosted its capital base, meaning that its chief executive is confident in saying that it is finally able to fulfil its role of fostering regional trade in eastern and southern Africa.

Gill Marcus

South African CBG toes a fine line

May 23, 2014

South Africa’s central bank governor Gill Marcus faces the tricky task of curbing inflationary pressures while trying not to damage the country’s weak economy. Whether or not she succeeds will depend to a large extent on factors outside her control.

Angola seeks an end to oil dependence

Angola seeks an end to oil dependence

May 1, 2014

Angola’s impressive post-war development continues apace. But as oil production stagnates, the government is under greater pressure than ever to diversify the economy and create jobs. 

José de Lima Massano

Angola's CBG reforms his way to stability

May 1, 2014

Angola’s central bank has carried out a wave of reforms in recent years to improve its monetary policies and modernise the banking sector. And its governor, José de Lima Massano, says there is still more to come.

Angolan banks learn from their excesses

Angolan banks learn from their excesses

May 1, 2014

Angola’s banking sector has been hit by a recent rise in non-performing loans, a legacy of reckless lending in the past decade. But bankers are optimistic that the worst is over. 

Reforming Angola's macroeconomy

May 1, 2014

Angola’s government has been praised for its macroeconomic reforms of recent years, but more are needed to accelerate economic diversification, and public financial management still needs to be strengthened.

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