The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market
moves and political events may affect African markets on Friday.
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GLOBAL MARKETS
Asian share markets battled to regain their footing on Friday
as investors clutched at hopes China could contain the
coronavirus, even as headlines spoke of ever more cases and
mounting deaths. MKTS/GLOB
WORLD OIL PRICES
Oil prices jumped on Friday following sharp losses this week,
as the World Health Organization (WHO) came out against travel
and trade restrictions in declaring a global emergency over
the spread of the coronavirus that originated in China last
year. O/R
EMERGING MARKETS
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SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS
South Africa's rand weakened by more than 1% on Thursday, as
dampened risk sentiment over the coronavirus outbreak in China
added to worries about the local economy after state power
firm Eskom announced the resumption of rolling
blackouts. OIL
A Nigerian court on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for
former oil minister Dan Etete and two others in relation to a
$1.3 billion oil deal scandal. MARKETS
The Kenyan shilling KES= strengthened on Thursday buoyed by
dollar inflows from remittances and offshore investors buying
government debt, traders said. LOGISTICS
Kenyan start-up Sendy, which operates an app linking delivery
drivers with customers, has raised 2 billion shillings ($19.9
million) for expansion, it said on Thursday. CURRENCIES
Kenya's and Uganda's shillings are expected to gain ground
against the dollar in the next week to Thursday, while
Tanzania's will hold steady, traders said. JUDICIARY
A Burundian court on Thursday jailed four journalists for
2-1/2 years for offences including undermining state security
in a ruling criticised by Amnesty International as a sad day
for press freedom in the central African country. ECONOMY
Malawi central bank left its benchmark lending rate unchanged
at 13.5% on Thursday, and said gross domestic product (GDP)
would grow by as much as 6% in 2020 as the country recovered
from drought and agricultural output rose. TELECOMS
A Ugandan government move to require foreign-owned telecom
firms to list on the local bourse may fail to achieve its goal
of boosting Ugandan ownership in the sector, MTN Uganda's
chief executive told Reuters on Thursday. INVESTMENT
Ethiopia passed a new investment law on Thursday, part of a
bid by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to transform the Horn of
Africa nation's economy and drive progress toward a
middle-income status. For the latest precious metals report click on GOL/
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For the latest crude oil report click on O/L