CFA franc zone: a graphical representation of loans from China
September 6, 2018
Sources:CARI, franctrade
Macro-Fundamentals
China’s USD60 billion pledge to Africa
September 6, 2018
The just ended Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing,China showcased South-South cooperation at a time when protectionist policies have gained ground in some major economies and which risk undermining North-South partnerships. China’s pledge of another USD60 billion in additional support for African countries has fueled debate on the sustainability of China’s financial and trading relationship with Africa. Meanwhile,
Cocoa’s Cinderella moment (featuring Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Brazil and Indonesia)
June 7, 2018
Franc view: The combination of tighter supply, rising demand and positive short-term technicals (the RSI appears deeply oversold) suggest cocoa prices will not return to the doldrums of 2017. The Ball Cocoa’s glittering rise, from $1,809/tonne on December 22, 2017 to a high of $2,914/tonne on May 1, 2018 (NY futures), was reminiscent of the
Franctrade–How the UK trades with the CFA franc zone
March 21, 2018
Highlights Franctrade estimates the UK’s total trade with Africa fell 4% in 2017 to US$ 24.6 billion. This compares with a 4% increase in the UK’s trade with the world during the same period; Total CFA franc zone trade with the UK fell 14% in 2017 (est), steeper than the decline in the UK’s trade
Franc Opinion–West African Bourse: How will investors swallow the good doctor’s advice?
March 20, 2018
Dr Edoh Kossi Amenounve, the CEO of the Francophone West African regional stock market (BRVM) is on an international tour to promote the bourse which is showing signs of recovery after 2 years of sluggish performance. With 3 IPOs in the pipeline and a catalogue of “good” projections, Dr Amenounve is hoping to woo investors looking
FrancSterling Index (FSI): Sterling still-sluggish vs the CFA franc
March 17, 2018
FrancSterling Index: Franctrade introduces its FrancSterling Index (FSI) tracking the trade-weighted west and central African CFA franc (CFAF) against the British pound sterling (GBP). Sterling has been softer vs. the CFAF with the currency largely weighed down by market concerns related to Brexit. A moderate recovery in the index in Q2-2017 and Q4-2017 has not
Size matters–The CFA franc market evolution in charts
March 10, 2018
Central African Bourse: Economic rivalry may soon give way to common-sense as Douala and Libreville eye merger
March 2, 2018
Efforts are underway in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) to merge the Douala Stock Exchange (DSX) with Libreville’s Central African Bourse (BVMAC) after years of lacklustre activity. Prospects for the merger had been raised following a decision by the regions’ Heads of State in October 2017 with a steering committee now expected
From the editor: Are Cameroon’s stoic financial markets downplaying unquantifiable politics?
October 14, 2017
A tale of two cities We share two intriguing headlines from the past two weeks with our readers. The first suggesting “the Anglophone crisis may prolong…Q1-2017 GDP contraction” the second reading “Investors have an expensive habit of downplaying unquantifiable politics”. The first quote is culled from Bloomberg Intelligence’s brief on Cameroon while the second is
Why 666 may be Cameroon’s lucky number
July 23, 2017
This is not a pat on the back Last month the IMF approved a three year loan for USD666 million to Cameroon, the first such support from the Fund since 1999 and comes on the back of discussions with the IMF following the emergency December meeting of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central African