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Kenya’s Stanbic Holdings reports flat $106.4M profit as revenue falls, impairments halve

Total revenue declined 3.1% year-on-year to $298.5 million (KShs 38.51 billion), driven by reductions in both net interest income and non-interest income. This pressure reflects a normalizing interest rate environment in Kenya following earlier high rates.

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South Africaโ€™s Standard Bank posts record $2.9bn earnings on regional growth

The lenderโ€™s total assets expanded to $216.5 billion (R3.6 trillion) from $196.0 billion (R3.26 trillion) a year earlier, reflecting robust balance sheet growth across both domestic and regional operations.

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Zambia pitches copper expansion as US seeks alternatives to China

Zambiaโ€™s mines minister Paul Kabuswe on Tuesday said the government is holding investment discussions with US and other foreign partners as part of a broader strategy to expand output in Africaโ€™s second-largest copper producer.

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Tanzania gold exports hit record $4.7 billion in 2025

Tanzanian authorities are pushing domestic value addition, including plans for a state-backed refinery and requirements for large miners to process and trade portions locally.

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Ethiopiaโ€™s Stock Exchange bets on mobile to attract retail investors

Neway enables users to open brokerage accounts remotely, view real-time market data, place buy and sell orders, execute trades, and monitor portfoliosโ€”all from smartphones

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Nigeria lifts gold holdings to $3.5bn amid global bullion rally

The latest purchase comes at a time when global central banks are rapidly increasing their gold holdings amid rising geopolitical tensions and persistent economic uncertainty.

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Middle East: War-risk insurance spike forces MSC surcharge on Africa-bound cargo

MSC told customers the surcharge would remain โ€˜until further noticeโ€™ while the company continues to monitor the situation in coordination with authorities and insurers.

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Kenya’s private sector keeps expanding despite a slight slowdown in February

Kenyaโ€™s private sector stayed in expansion mode in February, with the Stanbic Bank PMI at 50.4 above the 50 neutral line despite a slight slowdown. Services, construction and retail led gains, while inflation cooled to 4.3%.

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South Africa business confidence falls to 4ยฝ-year low as PMI holds at 50

With confidence at a multi-year low and order books thinning, the durability of South Africaโ€™s fragile stabilisation may hinge on a sustained recovery in domestic demand and supportive macroeconomic conditions.

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Nedbank lifts earnings 2% as credit losses fall, revenue growth remains subdued

South Africa’s Nedbank Group reported a modest 2% increase in headline earnings for the full year 2025, reaching $1.07 billion (R17.2 billion), as improved credit quality helped offset subdued revenue growth amid ongoing economic challenges in the country.

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Rising commodity prices push Egyptโ€™s private sector deeper into contraction

S&P said all five sub-components of the index signalled weaker operating conditions compared with January, as firms grappled with softening demand and intensifying price pressures.

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Kenyaโ€™s domestic debt hits $54.7 billion as rapid local borrowing intensifies fiscal strain

Treasury bonds comprise $44.5 billion (KSh 5.739 trillion) about 81% of the total with local banks, pension funds, and insurance companies accounting for nearly 79% of domestic securities

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Nigeria signs $1.3 billion AFC deal for landmark alumina refinery

The flagship alumina refinery is designed to process approximately 1 million tonnes of bauxite ore per year using a modern Bayer-process flowsheet.Over an expected 20-year lifespan at 95% utilisation, the facility is projected to produce approximately 19 million tonnes

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Egypt’s net foreign assets surge to record high amid economic reforms

Egypt’s net foreign assets (NFA) climbed to an unprecedented $29.54 billion in January, marking a $4.02 billion increase from the previous month

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Nigeriaโ€™s private sector rebounds as cost inflation eases to six-year low

Except for Januaryโ€™s dip, operating conditions have strengthened consistently since December 2024, pointing to sustained business momentum.

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Oil-starved Africa faces inflation, FX squeeze as US-Israel-Iran tensions flare

The escalating U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict has placed the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for roughly 20% of global seaborne crude and significant LNG volumes at the heart of energy market volatility.

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Uganda moves to buy Gold from domestic refineries, amid Iranโ€“US conflict

Uganda aims to buy 100 kg of Gold between March and June 2026 to boost reserves and cushion the economy against risks from ongoing Tehran Airstrikes.

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Angola invests $636m in border corridor to formalise trade under AfCFTA

The newly inaugurated Luvo border complex in Zaire Province consolidates customs, immigration, police and phytosanitary services into a single integrated facility, replacing a fragmented system where agencies operated separately.

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IMF unlocks $2.3 billion for Egypt, affirming stabilisation gains

The IMF has unlocked $2.3 billion for Egypt after key reviews, praising sharp inflation declines and a stabilizing economyโ€”but urging faster progress on privatization and structural reforms to secure lasting growth.

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Zimbabwe walks away from $367M US Health Pact over sovereignty threat

Zimbabwe has terminated negotiations on a proposed $367 million five-year bilateral health agreement with the United States, citing concerns over mandatory sharing of sensitive epidemiological and biological data.

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