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Rand set to snap losing streak
April 16, 2014--The rand looked set to snap a four-session losing streak against the dollar on Wednesday as investor sentiment towards emerging markets received a boost from solid Chinese growth data.
Analysts, however, expected global risk appetite to remain cautious as the political crisis in Ukraine plays out, while a prolonged strike in the platinum mining sector remains a worry for investors.
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Source: FIN24
JSE slides, led lower by miners
April 15, 2014--South African stocks have been dragged lower by top tier mining stocks as global gold prices slumped by more than 2% on US dollar strength.
AngloGold Ashanti was the biggest loser in the blue chips index, tumbling 3.78% at R184.25, its biggest percentage decline in nearly two months.
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Source: FIN24
Rand softer on Ukraine, China fears
April 15, 2014--The rand has weakened against the dollar as the market fretted about what is expected to be weaker Chinese growth data
and escalating tensions in Ukraine.
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JSE survives new wave of risk aversion view more
Weak rand SA's bitter remedy for recovery vie more
Launch of Minimum Variance Indices view more
Launch of Risk Target Indices
The indices de-leverage during times of higher volatility (i.e. increases cash position, decreases index position) and re-leverage during times of lower volatility. Volatility forecasts are based on an exponentially weighted 120 day moving average approach, and are applied daily. view more
World Bank Africa's Growth Set to Reach 5.2 percent in 2014 With Strong Investment Growth and Household Spending view Africa's Pulse April 2014
Nigeria Declares Self Africas 'Largest Economy view more
Managing Volatile Capital Flows: Experiences and Lessons for Sub-Saharan African Frontier Markets view the Managing Volatile Capital Flows Experiences and Lessons for Sub-Saharan African Frontier Markets
Source: FIN24
April 14, 2014--Emerging markets are again on the unwanted list as investors,
spooked by the renewed crisis in the Ukraine, are fleeing to safer havens.
Source: FIN24
April 14, 2014--Rand weakness is the bitter medicine necessary to help repair the South African economy over time,
an analyst has told Fin24.
Source: FIN24
April 11, 2014--The new Minimum Variance Indices will be launched on 10 May 2014.
The FTSE/JSE Minimum Variance indices aim to reduce index volatility based on historical return information. This offers potential improvements to the risk-reward ratio, whilst maintaining full allocation to the relevant equity market. Reduced volatility is achieved by applying a transparent rules-based approach which minimises historical variance subject to additional constraints on the weight of individual stocks. An All Share and a Top 40 version are being introduced.
Source: Johannesburg Stock Exchange
April 10, 2014--The new Risk Target Indices will be launched on 10 May 2014.
The FTSE/JSE Top 40 Net Risk Target indices are based upon a rules-based framework that tracks the return of an investment strategy which aims to provide an investor with risk targeted exposures to the FTSE/JSE Top 40 Net Total Return Index. The volatility target indices make use of the empirical properties of the risk statistic and aim to provide an equity investor access to three different levels of risk exposure: 10%, 15% and 20%.
Source: Johannesburg Stock Exchange
April 7, 2014--Economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) continues to rise from 4.7 percent in 2013 to a forecasted 5.2 percent in 2014. This performance is boosted by rising investment in natural resources and infrastructure, and strong household spending, according to the World Bank’s new Africa's Pulse, a twice-yearly analysis of the issues shaping Africa's economic prospects.
Growth was notably buoyant in resource-rich countries, including Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It remained steady in Cote d'Ivoire, while rebounding in Mali, supported by improved political stability and security. Non-resource-rich countries, particularly Ethiopia and Rwanda, also experienced solid economic growth in 2013.
Source: World Bank
April 6, 2014--Nigerian statistics chief Yemi Kale said Sunday the country's economy is estimated at about $490 billion, easily topping the $384 billion figure the World Bank calculated for South Africa in 2012.
Nigeria reached the new figure for its economy, the 26th largest in the world, after taking into account such industries as airlines, telecommunications, and information technology that were not included in its last calculation in 1990. Nigeria said then it had 300,000 landline telephones, but now boasts 100 million cell phone users.
Source: AllAfrica.com
March 24, 2014--Summary: During the past three years the frontier markets of sub-Saharan Africa have received growing amounts of portfolio capital flows, with heightened interest from foreign investors. Compared with foreign direct investment, portfolio capital flows tend to be more volatile, and thus pose challenges for sub-Saharan African frontier markets.
This study examines the evolution of capital flows since 2010 and discusses the policies these countries have designed to reduce risks from the inherent volatility of these flows.
Source: IMF
