News & Analysis: Financial markets
“Indeed, it seems quite evident that companies that invest courageously and timely in pivoting their businesses toward the behavioural changes can capture market shares and emerge as market leaders post-pandemic.”
“COVID-19 has been very damaging to global equity and debt markets, especially in developing markets with riskier assets. The financial panic was particularly acute in Africa leading to an abrupt decline in commodity prices and large foreign financial outflows coupled with economic lockdowns.”
“The review was not an additional or new budget, but a reconsideration of spending priorities and a reallocation of funds to speak to current needs following the tabling of the government’s budget for the 2020/21 financial year in May. Shiimi said the N$72,8-billion budget as presented in May was tabled amid extreme uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic and when its full effect on the economy and public finances was still unknown.”
How can African countries “build forward,” not build back, after COVID-19? Our panel of experts shares their thoughts on creating more resilient and more prosperous economies across the continent.
“Protectionism remains the name of the game for West Africa’s economic powerhouses, whose governments are preoccupied with overcoming the devastation wrought by the coronavirus.”
“A local company goes to court to recover $300m from the state power utility as bondholders postpone a vote on the government’s request for debt relief”
“The coronavirus crisis weighs on the short-term outlook, and also a significant increase in domestic political instability that could jeopardise economic conditions would be negative credit.”
“International Debt Statistics is a longstanding annual publication of the World Bank featuring external debt statistics and analysis for the 120 low- and middle-income countries that report to the World Bank Debt Reporting System.”
“Impact investors can only ever hope to make a small dent in emerging markets but they have created debt vehicles to support small and midsize groups, often by providing funds to companies that serve or invest in such businesses. Some have also adjusted fundraising efforts that existed before the pandemic to reflect the new reality.”
“African economies, hit simultaneously by COVID-19 and low commodity prices, are facing a deadly liquidity crisis as governments desperately try to shore up crumbling economies. But there is a neat solution to their problems – IMF Special Drawing Rights.”
A hub for information, analysis, and the global response to COVID-19’s impact on Africa