Browsing: financial crisis

Johannesburg South Africa
  • Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, and Kenya are all expected to raise borrowing costs within the next two weeks
  • In contrast, monetary authorities in countries such as Ghana and Angola, where inflation is on a downward trend, are expected to maintain current rate
  • US monetary tightening could slow due to banking turmoil, weakening demand for the dollar.  

Major central banks in Africa are preparing to raise interest rates in order to combat persistent inflation and prevent a sell-off in their assets exacerbated by an uncertain financial system following the recent collapse of US lender Silicon Valley Bank and stress at Credit Suisse Group AG.

Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, and Kenya are all expected to raise borrowing costs within the next two weeks.

In contrast, monetary authorities in countries such as Ghana and Angola, where inflation is on a downward trend, are expected to maintain current rates. Six smaller African

Silicon Valley Bank
  • Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was the 16th largest bank in the United States catering for the financial needs of technology companies around the world.
  • The risk of a ripple effect impacting the global financial system is high.
  • The US government has moved quickly to salvage the bank and safeguard deposits   

US-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) was the 16th largest bank in the United States catering for the financial needs of technology companies around the world.

SVB’s woes started when the US reserve bank hiked rates to mitigare inflation pressures. The bank had a significant portfolio of government bonds whose prices fall when interest rates are jerked

The Guardian explains that, “If SVB were able to hold those bonds for a number of years until they mature, then it would receive its capital back. However, as economic conditions soured over the last year, with tech companies particularly affected, many of the …