Since monetary policy committees in some of the region’s key nations last met, temporary restrictions on movement were imposed in western Kenya in a bid to avoid a catastrophic fourth wave of infections. In South Africa, the reintroduction of strict lockdown measures and deadly riots have emerged as key risks to economic growth.Higher oil prices may bolster economic growth in Nigeria, the continent’s top crude producer. But the increased cost of imported refined fuel will also stoke consumer-price growth, adding to pressures of rising food costs.
Although policy makers are expected to look through rising prices and only raise interest rates after the virus eases, they’ll be cautious of falling too far behind frontier markets such as Ukraine that have already started tightening, said Ayomide Mejabi, chief economist for sub-Saharan Africa at JPMorgan Chase Bank NA. Relatively lower rates may make country’s financial assets less attractive to offshore investors.
African Central Banks to Hold Key Rates Amid Virus Resurgence
bnnbloomberg.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bnnbloomberg.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Angola Set to Keep Policy Rate at Record High for Rest of 2021
bnnbloomberg.ca - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bnnbloomberg.ca Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.