Africa Economics Update The naira’s rally is probably over The Nigerian naira has been one of the strongest performing EM currencies since the start of the year, helped by an improved balance of payments position. But the naira’s rally is starting to hurt... 26th February 2026 · 3 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa gives away revenue windfall once again South Africa’s finance minister used today’s Budget speech to once again offer more fiscal giveaways, mainly in the form of putting off previously mooted tax rises, rather than save the revenue... 25th February 2026 · 3 mins read
Africa Economics Update How a fiscal rule would help South Africa There’s growing talk that South Africa’s government could introduce a fiscal rule at this week’s Budget. If so, this would strengthen fiscal credibility and help to lock-in the recent falls in local... 23rd February 2026 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: soft end to 2025 but reasons to be upbeat The latest batch of activity data from South Africa point to GDP growth softening to 0.2-0.3% q/q in the final quarter of last year. But we remain optimistic that a combination of easing supply side... 18th February 2026 · 3 mins read
Africa Economics Update Will Africa continue to shrug off surging Chinese Imports Chinese exports to Africa surged last year and we expect Africa’s trade deficit with China to persist presenting risks to domestic industrialisation ambitions. However, China has levers that it can... 17th February 2026 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Update SA and the bursting of the precious metals bubble We think that the recent drop in precious metals prices has further to run, and the recent outperformance in South Africa’s financial markets has come to an end. But on the macro side, South Africa’s... 6th February 2026 · 4 mins read
Africa Economics Update Inflation backdrop to prompt more rate cuts in SSA Inflation is subdued or falling across Sub-Saharan Africa, a trend which we think has further to run over the course of 2026. Monetary stances are generally tight, which provides policymakers with... 4th February 2026 · 5 mins read
Global Markets Update Rally in South African assets to run out of steam After a record-breaking year, we think the rally in South African assets will lose momentum, given that there is little scope for risk premia to compress much further and we expect precious metals... 29th January 2026 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Update SARB’s pause should not last long The South African Reserve Bank paused its easing cycle as we expected today, but the commentary was dovish suggesting even if positive shocks to inflation do emerge the path of interest rates will... 29th January 2026 · 3 mins read
Africa Economics Update Insecurity in Nigeria: the north-south divide is widening US military strikes in northern Nigeria a few weeks ago refocussed attention on the country’s security challenges. Violence remains high nationwide and, while security is improving modestly in the... 22nd January 2026 · 4 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa’s solid growth to continue The latest batch of activity data from South Africa were soft but still pointed to the economy ending 2025 on a solid footing. Easing supply conditions, looser monetary policy and improved terms of... 21st January 2026 · 3 mins read
Africa Economics Update Uganda elections: Museveni to win but unrest risk lingers Uganda heads into elections next week with President Yoweri Museveni widely expected to secure a ninth successive term. Under this status quo, continued investment in the hydrocarbon industry and... 12th January 2026 · 5 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: pick-up in credit growth has further to run Private sector credit growth in South Africa has accelerated and, with further monetary easing on the cards and crowding out by the government likely to wane, we think this will continue. Stronger... 7th January 2026 · 4 mins read
Africa Economics Update SARB cuts and strikes a dovish tone The South African Reserve Bank resumed its easing cycle today with a 25bp cut (to 6.75%) and the dovish accompanying communication increases our confidence that the SARB will cut the repo by another... 20th November 2025 · 3 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa’s economy lost momentum in Q3 The latest activity data suggest that South Africa’s GDP growth slowed a touch in Q3, to around 0.5% q/q, and we expect it to remain around this rate over the coming quarters, helped by improved terms... 19th November 2025 · 3 mins read
Africa Economics Update South Africa: an opportunistic MTBPS South Africa’s finance minister used today’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) as an opportunity to spend a large chunk of a recent revenue windfall to boost the economy. But this is likely... 12th November 2025 · 4 mins read
