Africa
IMF: Larger long-term credit facilities needed in WAEMU
IMF study shows more investment in longer term projects in West African Union countries will enhance returns
Ndung’u calls for new reforms in MFI scheme
Kenyan governor Ndung’u draws up plans to enhance MFI’s incorporation
How Africa’s bond markets can continue to progress
The impressive growth of debt markets in sub-Saharan Africa is a credit to the region’s authorities. But more can be done, writes Paul-Harry Aithnard, the group head of research at Ecobank
Middle East and North Africa’s trade below potential
International Monetary Fund looks at trade constraints in the region
Africa mostly sheltered from remittances drop
International Monetary Fund looks at the impact of the global economic crisis on African GDP via the remittance channel
Oman signs up to new FX, payments system
Central Bank of Oman’s move represents part of a broader trend by emerging-market central banks to refine operational systems
Zambia’s Fundanga: region to upgrade regulation
Bank of Zambia’s Caleb Fundanga says Eastern and Southern Africa’s regulation must adapt to complex cross-border financial institutions and move to consolidated supervision
How financial markets in Africa develop
International Monetary Fund research makes an empirical examination of the determinants of financial market in Africa, looking particularly at banking systems and stock markets
Angola says no devaluation in sight
Central Bank of Angola’s deputy governor says the central bank will withstand “speculative drive” to devalue the kwanza
Basel Committee expands membership
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision on Wednesday expanded its membership to include all G20 countries.
Institutions matter in financial development
The gap in financial development between the countries of the CFA franc zone and the rest of Sub-Saharan Africa can be explained by differences in institutional quality, new research from the International Monetary Fund reveals.
Uganda's Tumusiime-Mutebile: more aid needed
Multilateral institutions could assist African economies by providing balance of payments support as well as structural adjustment loans for countries dependent on primary commodity exports, said Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, the governor of the Bank of…
Sub-Saharan Africa faces severe slump, IMF warns
The International Monetary Fund warned on Tuesday that economies in sub-Saharan Africa were facing a "severe downturn" and called for a strong public-policy response both domestically and internationally.
SA's Mminele on Southern Africa's goals
The Southern African Development Community's goal is to achieve a single currency and a regional central bank by 2018, said Daniel Mminele, an executive general manager of the South African Reserve Bank.
South African Reserve Bank - Quarterly Bulletin
South Africa cannot escape the negative consequences of the international financial turmoil, notes the South African Reserve Bank's March Quarterly Bulletin.
SA inflation dips as new gauge introduced
South African inflation plunged by more than two percentage points last month following the introduction of a new inflation basket.
Africa will not be spared - IMF's Kato
The global financial crisis will not spare Africa, said Takatoshi Kato, a deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
SA's new CPI gauge trims inflation by 0.9pp
The new method of calculating South African headline inflation would have trimmed nine-tenths of a percentage point off the December measure, the government's statistics bureau said on Tuesday.
Banknote Watch SA launched
A new organisation, called Banknote Watch SA, has been launch in South Africa to prevent cash-related crime in the run-up to the FIFA 2010 World Cup in the country.
South African inflation hits record high
South African inflation accelerated to 13.6% in the year to August, the highest level since the government began to compile the data in 1998.
SA trade deficit narrows in second quarter
South Africa's trade deficit narrowed from 8.9% of GDP in the first quarter to 7.3% in the three months to June, the country's Reserve Bank reported on Thursday.
SA may target different inflation measure
The South African Reserve Bank may target a different measure of inflation from 2009 onwards, the country's finance minister is reported as saying.
South Africa signals end to rate hikes
The South African Reserve Bank's tightening cycle appears to be at a close after the Pretoria-based central bank held rates at 12% on Thursday.
Southern Africa: regional cooperation vital
Regional integration that enhances economic growth is a vital objective of Southern African governments, said Xolile Guma, a deputy governor of the South African Reserve Bank.