{"id":3782,"date":"2023-06-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-30T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.azafinance.com\/2023\/06\/30\/nigerian-president-pushes-for-a-unified-exchange-rate-rand-steady-as-investors-watch-for-effects-from-interrupted-russian-coup\/"},"modified":"2023-06-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-06-30T00:00:00","slug":"nigerian-president-pushes-for-a-unified-exchange-rate-rand-steady-as-investors-watch-for-effects-from-interrupted-russian-coup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azafinance.com\/nigerian-president-pushes-for-a-unified-exchange-rate-rand-steady-as-investors-watch-for-effects-from-interrupted-russian-coup\/","title":{"rendered":"Nigerian president pushes for a unified exchange rate, Rand steady as investors watch for effects from interrupted Russian coup","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"infogram-embed\" data-id=\"1pgdelnydevyyzh9zn7rx3p0exawqkkx0we?live\" data-type=\"interactive\"><\/div><script>!function(e,t,s,i){var n=\"InfogramEmbeds\",o=e.getElementsByTagName(\"script\"),d=o[0],r=\/^http:\/.test(e.location)?\"http:\":\"https:\";if(\/^\\\/{2}\/.test(i)&&(i=r+i),window[n]&&window[n].initialized)window[n].process&&window[n].process();else if(!e.getElementById(s)){var a=e.createElement(\"script\");a.async=1,a.id=s,a.src=i,d.parentNode.insertBefore(a,d)}}(document,0,\"infogram-async\",\"\/\/e.infogram.com\/js\/dist\/embed-loader-min.js\");<\/script>\n<h4><b>Nigerian Naira (\u20a6)\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compiled by Ikenga Kalu<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Naira has traded around levels of USD\/NGN 770 this week after closing last week around the USD\/NGN 773 level. There has been some volatility in the currency pair as it seeks stability following the targeting of a unified exchange rate as outlined by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his inauguration speech at the end of May.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The goal of the unified exchange rate will be to increase investment in the region and promote liquidity in the banking sector. The benefits have already been observed over the past few weeks, with Bloomberg reporting that Nigerian banking stocks are set for their best quarter since 2017.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We are likely to see increases in inflation in the June inflation print as the fuel price has almost tripled since May. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the week ahead, we expect some volatility to remain and trade in the region of USD\/NGN 770.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Further reading:\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/9cef0346-319d-481d-8037-ea273ae766ee\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Financial Times \u2013 Nigeria\u2019s Bola Tinubu gets off to dramatic start<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/articles\/2023-06-27\/nigeria-banking-stocks-heading-for-best-quarter-since-2017-still-underpriced#xj4y7vzkg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Bloomberg \u2013 Nigeria Banking Stocks Head for Best Quarter Since 2017<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h4><b>Ghanaian Cedi (GH\u00a2)<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compiled by Murega Mungai<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Ghanaian cedi closed last week at USD\/GHS 11.75. Going into the new week, the cedi remained relatively stable and was at 11.76 as of Tuesday afternoon. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Results from the Ghanaian Assin North by-election on Tuesday evening saw the National Democratic Congress\u2019 (NDC) James Gyakye Quayson win. This means that the NDC now has the same number of seats as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in parliament. This adds challenges for President Nana Akufo-Addo\u2019s bid to secure additional IMF funding in a bid to address its current economic situation. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With the impending June 30, 2023 deadline for the next tranche of the $3 billion loan, Ghana reached an agreement with banks to restructure 15 billion cedi of locally issued U.S. dollar bonds and cocoa bills. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With a rising expectation of a July 26, 2023, rate hike from the U.S Federal Reserve, we can expect the cedi to depreciate against the dollar over the coming week.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Further reading:\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/news.yahoo.com\/ghana-parliament-hung-again-opposition-215654981.html?guccounter=1&#038;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&#038;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMqZPFi3OvQywB2eigFMl5outDD72p9lWqBtEqmt0CGZ23Usi5QDoxdU0YaHW4WvgovGdQWSrLkbiuMPFUYjOi0BS4YehdqmoOFwVTocQCj4jOGxfNQn5HiSC6WxkNzsct4uPrjNCRfTIH2g-fTcKJwSeQ72fOrw2AfFrhzj9Fgp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yahoo finance \u2014 Ghana Parliament Hung Again After Opposition Wins By-Election<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/ghana-agrees-restructuring-deal-banks-083546337.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Yahoo finance \u2014 Ghana agrees restructuring deal with banks on some domestic debt<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h4><b>South African Rand (R)\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compiled by Alex Barmuta<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The South African rand closed off last week at USD\/ZAR 18.315. The new week saw the rand give back some of those gains, as it eased back to the USD\/ZAR 18.510 levels by Wednesday afternoon. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is due to a weaker dollar and the recent failed mutiny in Russia, which reduces the likelihood of President Vladimir Putin attending the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in August. South Africa, as a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) hosting the summit, would be expected to arrest Putin if he attends. Failing to do so could strain relations with the West. The rand is also benefiting from reduced power outages by state utility Eskom, as there have been some improvements in electricity generation capacity in recent weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, the JSE FTSE All Share index ended the day with a 0.4% increase, reaching a level of 74,503. Investors were focused on evaluating the global economic situation and the direction of interest rates. The possibility of additional economic stimulus in China helped alleviate concerns about a potential worldwide recession and geopolitical risks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Considering the firmer dollar, we do not expect the rand to break below the USD\/ZAR 18.00 level, and likely to continue trading in the USD\/ZAR 18.20-18.50 range.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Further reading:\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/currencies\/south-africas-rand-jumps-improving-investor-sentiment-2023-06-12\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reuters \u2013 South African rand jumps as investors assess Russia impact<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h4><b>Egyptian Pound (EGP)<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compiled by Mitchell Diedrick<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Egyptian pound remained relatively stable over the past few days and continues to trade around USD\/EGP 30.90 between the close of last week and today. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Earlier this week Fitch Solutions \u2014 one of the Fitch Ratings companies \u2014 warned that persistent high inflation rates are a concern and likely to contribute to higher borrowing costs. This should also be a concern for the government when it looks to raise additional financing for the current fiscal year. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the week ahead, we expect the pound to remain stable at USD\/EGP 30.90, with economic calendar events picking up toward the end of next week. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Further reading:\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.egyptindependent.com\/fitch-solutions-warns-of-high-inflation-rates-in-egypt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Egypt Independent \u2013 Fitch Solutions warns of high inflation rates in Egypt<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h4><b>Kenyan Shilling (KSh)<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compiled by Terry Karanja<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Kenyan shilling closed at USD\/KES 140.33 last week and has depreciated marginally to USD\/KES 140.38 by the time of writing, another new high for the year. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The continued pressure on the shilling is largely driven by a higher demand for U.S. dollars, which remains in excess compared to KES demand. This prompted the monetary policy committee to raise interest rates at an impromptu meeting by 100 basis points \u2014 to 10.5% \u2014 in order to manage inflation.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">We can expect the USD\/KES to continue trading around its current levels in the coming week, as the interest rate decision is likely to bring in some much needed KES demand. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Further reading:\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marketwatch.com\/story\/kenya-central-bank-raises-key-interest-rate-to-10-50-to-tame-inflation-1bdcdcb5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Marketwatch &#8211; Kenya Central Bank Raises Key Interest Rate to 10.50% to Tame Inflation<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h4><b>Ugandan Shilling (USh)<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This Wednesday, June 28, 2023, USD\/UGX\u00a0 traded at 3,672.00, the price remaining the same from last Friday. The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) anticipates that oil production from the Tilenga project will begin in the first half of 2025. The Tilenga project&#8217;s oil will be transported to the port of Tanga in Tanzania via the $3.5 billion East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Looking ahead, we anticipate USD\/UGX strengthening due to people having been deprived of free use of their land for more than three or four years as a result of Tilenga and EACOP, according to the statement. This has resulted in the deprivation of their means of subsistence and, as a result, severe food shortages for some families.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compiled by Yadhav Panday<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><b>Further reading:\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/uganda-expects-start-oil-production-tilenga-project-2025-2023-06-28\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reuters \u2014 Uganda expects to start oil production from Tilenga project in 2025<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h4><b>Tanzanian Shilling (TSh)<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compiled by Kristin Van Helsdingen<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Tanzanian shilling has continued its weakening trend against the U.S. dollar last week and closed off on Friday at USD\/TZS 2,397. This week, the trend has continued, and the Tanzanian shilling hit its weakest level since 2017 at USD\/TZS 2,405 at the time of writing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">On Monday, June 26, 2023, parliament gave the final approval for the TZS 44.39 trillion budget that was proposed at the 2023\/24 budget speech on June 15, 2023. The government is planning to spend 7% more than last year. Inflation is expected to be maintained between 3% and 7%. Real GDP growth is currently at 5.2% and is expected to rise to 6.3% by 2024. Additionally, the government is about to pass a new bill whereby tax on beer, gambling machines and cigarettes will be increased, and the revenue gained from this would be directed toward increasing the country\u2019s economic growth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to the Livestock and Fisheries Deputy Minister David Silinde, meat exports rose by more than 500% in weight from 2021 to 2022. Currently, animal-related products and activities contribute 7% toward the country\u2019s gross domestic product (GDP), and this sector continues to grow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the week ahead, we expect the Tanzanian shilling to weaken further against hard currencies as the Bank of Tanzania continues to slowly weaken its hold on the currency\u2019s FX value. USD\/TZS is expected to be trading around 2,408, and possibly higher.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Further reading:\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/tanzanias-parliament-approves-44-39tri-budget\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">AFRICA PRESS \u2013 Tanzania\u2019s parliament approves 44.39tri\/- budget<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/africa\/tanzania-sees-spending-rising-7-202324-budget-finance-minister-2023-06-15\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">REUTERS \u2013 Tanzania sees spending rising 7% in 2023\/24 budget<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bowmanslaw.com\/insights\/tax\/tanzania-2023-24-national-budget-highlights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">BOWMANS \u2013 TANZANIA: 2023\/24 NATIONAL BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/tanzania\/all-news\/bill-intends-to-enhance-economic-growth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">AFRICA PRESS \u2013 Bill intends to enhance economic growth<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ippmedia.com\/en\/news\/meat-exports-rise-five-times-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IPP media \u2013 Meat exports rise 5 times in 2022<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h4><b>West African CFA Franc Region (XOF)<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compiled by Jean C\u00e9dric Nando KOUA<\/span><\/i><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The IMF has announced that Senegal will benefit from XOF 909.6 billion as part of an economic support program.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This program aims to support the Senegalese government to improve the management of public finances by strengthening its mechanism to fight corruption, money laundering, etc., which should ultimately improve economic growth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Senegalese government will benefit from immediate financing of XOF 131 billion, which will enable it to correct budget deficits and boost economic growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Further reading:\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sikafinance.com\/marches\/senegal-le-fmi-approuve-un-programme-de-soutien-economique-de-1-5-milliard-usd_41439\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sika finance \u2013 Senegal: IMF approves $1.5 billion economic support program<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h4><b>Central African CFA Franc Region (XAF)<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Compiled by Jean C\u00e9dric Nando KOUA<\/span><\/i><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The central bank is tightening its policy as part of the fight against inflation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">After suspending liquidity injections and increasing the key rate four times, it decided to increase the amount of weekly withdrawals to XAF 200 billion against XAF 150 billion, an increase of 33.33%.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This liquidity takeover offer, remunerated at 0.75% over one week and 0.8% over 28 days, aims to suck up excess liquidity in the banking sector, which will have the effect of reducing forecast inflation to 6.4 % in 2023 against a community standard of 3%.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Further reading:\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sikafinance.com\/marches\/lutte-contre-linflation-la-beac-veut-retirer-200-milliards-fcfa-du-systeme-bancaire-par-semaine_41403\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Sika finance \u2013 Fight against inflation: BEAC wants to withdraw 200 billion FCFA from the banking system per week<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><em>Issued by AZA Finance, this Newsletter is produced as a service to our clients. It is prepared by our dealing professionals and is based on their understanding and interpretation of market events. AZA Finance cannot be held responsible for any losses of whatever nature sustained as a result of action taken based on comments contained in this publication.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nigerian Naira (\u20a6)\u00a0 Compiled by Ikenga Kalu The Naira has traded around levels of USD\/NGN 770 this week after closing last week around the USD\/NGN 773 level. There has been some volatility in the currency pair as it seeks stability following the targeting of a unified exchange rate as outlined by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":1,"featured_media":3783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[22,23,24,25,26,27,185,29,30,31,32,298,34,33,303,305],"class_list":["post-3782","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fx-insights","tag-africa-foreign-exchange","tag-cairo","tag-cfa-franc","tag-dollars","tag-egypt","tag-egyptian-pound","tag-foreign-exchange","tag-fx","tag-fx-insights","tag-ghana","tag-ghana-cedi","tag-kenyan-shilling-rate","tag-naira","tag-rand-rate","tag-tanzanian-shilling-rate","tag-ugandan-shilling-rate"],"acf":[],"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"link","format":"url"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/azafinance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3782","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/azafinance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/azafinance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azafinance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azafinance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3782"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/azafinance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3782\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azafinance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/azafinance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3782"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azafinance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3782"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azafinance.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3782"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}