Africa Business Europe Headlines International

BNP Paribas divests its South Africa corporate banks

After Shell, BNP Paribas has ditched its corporate banking business in South Africa, amid a spate of divestments by major multinationals. BNP Paribas, the largest bank in the EU, withdrew from South Africa after 12 years, as it seeks to consolidate its European and Asian business. BNP Paribas is also part of a series of […]

Business Finance Headlines Morocco

Morocco mandates banks for its Euro bond

Morocco has mandated Barclays, BNP Paribas, JPMorgan, Natixis to hold meetings with investors for its upcoming Euro bond, Bloomberg reported. The bond will help Morocco pay back 1 billion euro bond that will reach maturity next month.   Central bank governor Abdelatif Jouahri said Morocco will issue the bond this year in euro without giving […]

Business Finance Headlines Morocco

Fitch: Deposits in Morocco Islamic Banks to Grow up to 10 %

Islamic banking products in Morocco could expand their deposit bases by 5 to 10 pc, says Fitch Ratings, noting that the ability to grow the deposit base is positive for Morocco’s economic development because deposits represent about 70% of banking sector funding. “We expect growth of participation banks in Morocco will be high initially, as […]

Algeria Headlines

Algeria to Privatize Banks in Response to Oil Price Slide

State-owned banks in Algeria will soon be allowed to list in the stock exchange as Algiers continues to stumble in the aftermath of the plummeting oil prices. The privatization of the state-owned banks is an attempt by the Algerian government to promote its underdeveloped banking sector and diversify sources of revenue after the drop in […]

Features Finance Headlines Morocco

Morocco, Third Most Attractive Investment Destination in Africa, Havas Horizon

Efforts and investment policies implemented by Moroccan authorities to make the kingdom one of the first investment destination in Africa are paying off. The Paris-based consulting firm Havas Horizon has ranked, in its latest report, the North African country the third most attractive investment destination for the coming years. The report titled “Financing the African […]

Finance Headlines Morocco

Morocco: Attijariwafa Bank Group crowned best Moroccan bank by Euromoney awards for excellence

Morocco’s Attijariwafa Bank was Wednesday named best Moroccan bank by Euromoney for Excellence 2016 awards organised by leading Euromoney Institutional Investor based in London. Awards for Excellence are the most prestigious awards in global banking, which recognizes 20 global leading banks in various categories including world’s best bank, world’s best bank for financing, and world’s […]

Finance Headlines Morocco

Morocco’s CFC, Leading Financial Center in Africa, GFCI ranking

Casablanca Finance City has outstripped Johannesburg and Mauritius to become the leading financial center in Africa as it topped the continent’s ranking established by the Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI.) At the global level, CFC stands on the 33rd position of the ranking established by GFCI which ranks financial centers according to one main criteria: […]

Egypt Features Headlines

Egypt: Economy shows signs of revival, two new ministries underway

The Egyptian government has received a big boost after it sold $1.5 billion of 10-year bonds at a yield of 6% with lead managers claiming that $4.5 billion of investor orders were attracted by the bond issuance. The success of this first international bond issuance under Sisi’s government shows signs of a return to normality […]

Egypt Headlines

Egypt pulls debt sale plug

Egypt has decided to call off its first debt sale after a rating cut at Standard & Poor’s raised borrowing costs and as Fitch Ratings warned against delaying an International Monetary Fund loan beyond January. The local currency is continuing on its journey of unprecedented deprecation. The sale which was supposed to take place was […]