South Africa held steady, Nigeria tightened, Kenya surprised everyone. Rate decisions tell different stories depending on local inflation, currency pressure, and growth priorities. We unpacked each one.
Central Banks Are Making Moves — Here's What It Means
Rate decisions don't happen in a vacuum. Several African central banks adjusted policies recently, each balancing different pressures. We looked at the data behind the decisions.
When a central bank changes rates, the effects ripple outward. Borrowing costs shift for businesses and consumers, which changes spending patterns and investment appetite. The tricky part is timing — economic data lags, so decisions often feel like educated guesses.
Currency stability sits high on most policy agendas. Countries importing significant goods need their currency to hold value, otherwise inflation eats away at purchasing power. Central banks sometimes intervene directly in forex markets, though it's a tool with limits.
Looking at recent moves, we see different strategies. Some central banks prioritize squashing inflation even if growth takes a hit. Others try threading the needle — keeping prices stable while not strangling economic activity. Neither approach is wrong; they reflect different economic realities.
Sector AnalysisNovember 25, 2025
Tech Is Growing — But Not Everywhere Equally
Africa's tech sector gets plenty of headlines. The reality is more nuanced: some segments are booming, others are struggling, and geography matters more than most coverage suggests.
Fintech leads the pack, and it's not close. Mobile money and digital payments solve real problems for people locked out of traditional banking. The growth makes sense — these services fill genuine gaps.
E-commerce is trickier. Online shopping works great in some cities, but logistics and payment infrastructure still lag in many areas. Companies figuring this out combine tech with serious on-the-ground operations.
Economic IndicatorsNovember 22, 2025
Commodity Prices: The Roller Coaster Continues
Oil, minerals, agricultural exports — commodity prices still drive many African economies. When prices swing, government budgets and currency values swing with them.
Diversification gets talked about constantly, and for good reason. Countries heavily dependent on one or two exports face outsized risk when global demand shifts. Those with broader economic bases tend to weather price swings better.
Recent months show mixed signals across different commodities. Energy prices respond to global supply concerns, agricultural commodities face weather disruptions, and metals track manufacturing demand from Asia. Each category tells a different story.
Regional FocusNovember 19, 2025
Infrastructure Bets: Which Ones Actually Pay Off?
Railways, ports, power plants — big infrastructure projects promise to reshape regional economies. Some deliver, others don't. We looked at what separates the successes from the stalled.
Transport projects grab the most attention. New port capacity and rail links can genuinely change trade patterns, but execution matters enormously. Projects that seemed promising on paper have disappointed when timelines stretched and costs ballooned.
Energy infrastructure addresses a real constraint. Power shortages hold back industrial development across multiple markets. Renewables are gaining ground, partly for environmental reasons, partly because the economics increasingly make sense.
Market DynamicsNovember 16, 2025
Bond Markets Tell a Story — If You Know How to Read Them
Government bond yields reveal what investors actually think about country risk. Recent auction results show confidence levels vary sharply across the continent.
Some countries attract strong demand at reasonable rates. Others pay steep premiums, signaling investor concerns about debt sustainability or policy direction. The spread between them keeps widening.
Global factors complicate the picture. When major central banks shift policies, money flows in and out of emerging markets regardless of local fundamentals. African bond markets don't exist in isolation — they're connected to everything else.
Today's Market Snapshot
Quick overview of key market indicators
JSE All Share
78,542.30
+1.24%↑
NSE 20
1,856.45
+0.87%↑
NGX ASI
98,231.67
-0.32%↓
EGX 30
29,456.12
+2.15%↑
Data as of market close. For informational purposes only.
Dates to Mark
What's on the calendar this month
05Dec
South Africa Reserve Bank MPC Meeting
Interest rate decision announcement expected at 15:00 SAST
10Dec
Nigeria GDP Q3 Release
National Bureau of Statistics quarterly economic report
November 28, 2025
8 min read
Research Team
