Africa

What has changed in Africa in the past year? The precipitous drop in commodity prices threatened the progress made during two decades of tremendous growth, driving diversification efforts.

UK-based Barclays has reduced its shareholding in Johannesburg-listed Barclays Africa from 62.3% to 50.1% this year and is believed to be seeking to reduce that stake further to around 20%.

Our annual special coverage focusing on sub-Saharan Africa. 

Africa's enormous potential for growth is hampered by its citizens' lack of access to banking.

South Africa's growth is impeded by long-term constraints; still, the government deserves credit for tackling reforms. 

Foreign-currency bonds offer needed resources but come with heavy risks. 

With a wealth of cultivable land, Africa seeks to develop agriculture.

Ethiopia actively courts and sincerely welcomes foreign direct investment, but its early stage of development presents challenges.

China’s recent efforts to make it easier for global investors to access its enormous stock markets in Shanghai and Shenzhen were not enough to persuade MSCI to include these “China A shares” in its widely followed Emerging Markets Index just yet.

With each country responding differently to the commodities crash, Africa showcases a range of mitigating efforts, with varying success.

Zambia offers a range of advantages and opportunities for foreign investors, but they may want to wait awhile until some risks play out.

Forget Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Casablanca is carving a new identity as a financial hub, with the Casablanca Finance City (CFC) recently topping the Global Financial Centers Index in Africa.

Capital Markets | Regulation
“Nothing will make us deviate or change our course. We are not exiting our operations in any of our African markets,” declared Maria Ramos, CEO of Barclays Africa.

Discussing Africa's Middle Class with Don Hultman, head of client coverage and investment banking for Standard Bank New York

Capital Markets | Foreign Exchange
Locals as well as visitors to Zimbabwe will soon be able to walk into shops and pay for purchases in renminbi.

South Africa: After burning through two Finance ministers in 18 months—with the second having held the job for less than a week­—South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, moved in mid-December to restore a measure of stability to the post.

Mining and gas reserves made Mozambique a darling among foreign investors—until last year. Now the government needs to diversify.

Q+A
Richard de Roos, global head of foreign exchange, Standard Bank, says a deep understanding of client needs comes over time, with continuous engagement and constant feedback.

Burkina Faso
There’s been big change in the small country of Burkina Faso. On November 29, the West African nation of 17 million held its first free elections in almost three decades.

In the wake of falling commodities prices, Africa’s largest and oil-rich economies are now in damage-repair mode.