07/04/2026 - Sectors

Support for forest SMEs in Cameroon, Congo, and CAR: World Bank approves a loan of 224.3 billion FCFA

07/04/2026 - Sectors

07/04/2026 - Sectors

Finance: BOA Morocco plans to increase its capital by $116.5 million through incorporation of reserves

07/04/2026 - Economy and Finance in 7

07/04/2026 - General Information

OF Morning Brief§§§--=--§§§<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">After an extended weekend that saw no progress towards a resolution of the Middle East conflict, European stock markets are expected to open lower on Tuesday. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">In corporate news, certification and quality control specialist Bureau Veritas announced Monday evening the acquisition of Irish company Lotusworks for 375 million euros, including debt. Lotusworks specializes in commissioning and managing construction projects dedicated to critical infrastructure for semiconductor manufacturers and data center operators.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;<br> Around 8:00 AM, the CAC 40 futures contract was down 0.4%, according to data from broker IG.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">As Donald Trump's ultimatum to reach an agreement with Iran expires overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, and negotiations appear to be at a standstill, European stock market futures are down on Tuesday. Around 7:40 AM, the DAX 40 futures contract in Frankfurt was down 0.6%, while the FTSE 100 in London fell 0.2%, according to data from broker IG.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">During a press conference, the US president reiterated his threats against Iranian energy infrastructure on Monday. "The entire country can be brought down in one night, and that night could be the next," Donald Trump declared.<br> Washington gave Tehran until Tuesday 8 PM (Wednesday 3:00 AM in Paris) to unblock the Strait of Hormuz. However, Iran rejected a ceasefire proposal on Monday, calling US demands maximalist. According to sources cited by the Wall Street Journal, Iranian and American negotiators are pessimistic about the possibility of reaching an agreement before the approaching ultimatum.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The US stock market ended slightly higher on Monday. The Dow Jones index and the S&amp;P 500 each gained 0.4%, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite rose 0.5%.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">In Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei index gained 0.2% late Tuesday, while the Shanghai Composite edged up 0.1%. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is closed due to a public holiday.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif"><br> The two-year bond yield also rose 1 basis point, to 3.87%. Around 8:00 AM, the yield on the ten-year US Treasury bond increased by 1 basis point (0.01 percentage point), to 4.36%. <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The euro fell 0.1% against the greenback, to 1.1537 dollars, around 8:30 AM.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">With little hope for a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices are rising.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p> <span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:FR; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">Around 8:00 AM, the June contract for North Sea Brent gained 1.6% to 111.54 dollars. The May contract for light sweet crude (WTI) traded on Nymex climbed 2.8% to 115.56 dollars per barrel. According to Priyanka Sachdeva, an analyst at Phillip Nova, the war in the Middle East is causing structural tension across all oil markets. Even Washington's "energy dominance" cannot fully offset the loss of supply from the Gulf in the short term, she added.</span></p>

06/04/2026 - Sectors

06/04/2026 - Index/Markets

TAAG Angola Airlines: State Injects $186 Million

06/04/2026 - Index/Markets

06/04/2026 - Companies

06/04/2026 - Index/Markets Raw materials

06/04/2026 - Raw materials

06/04/2026 - Raw materials

06/04/2026 - Economy/Forex

Kenyan Banks: Profits Soar§§§--=--§§§<p class="MsoNormal">The Kenyan banking sector confirms its solidity. In 2025, the country's banks recorded historic profits despite a context marked by falling interest rates, illustrating a gradual transformation of their economic model and strong resilience.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">According to data compiled by Abojani Investment Limited, the cumulative net after-tax profit of 11 listed banks jumped by 15.7%, reaching 280.4 billion Kenyan shillings (2.16 billion dollars), compared to 242.3 billion (1.86 billion dollars) in 2024.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">This performance marks a clear recovery after the levels observed in previous years, notably 83 billion shillings in 2020 and 143 billion in 2021. The institutions concerned include Equity Group Holdings, KCB Group, Co-operative Bank of Kenya, NCBA Group, Absa Bank Kenya, and Standard Chartered Kenya.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">According to analysts, this dynamic is largely explained by a more stable macroeconomic context. Inflation has returned to the Central Bank of Kenya's targets, while interest rates have fallen, the currency has stabilized, and economic activity has strengthened.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">"These factors have collectively supported strong banking results," emphasized Purity Chege, referring to an overall improvement in the operational environment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">Beyond the economic situation, the transformation of the revenue model also explains these performances. Banks are less and less dependent on interest income, with growth now coming more from non-credit sources.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">Faced with moderate loan expansion, institutions have strengthened their operational efficiency and diversified their activities, particularly by favoring low-risk investments and ancillary revenues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="en-US">Solid Prospects Despite Uncertainties<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">With more than seven banks having equity capital exceeding 100 billion shillings, the sector appears well-capitalized and capable of absorbing potential shocks. Nine of the eleven banks have seen their profits increase, with their revenues exceeding their expenses.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">Despite international uncertainties, particularly those related to tensions in the Middle East, Kenyan banks thus appear well-positioned to maintain their momentum, supported by comfortable liquidity and solid fundamentals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

03/04/2026 - Sectors

Strengthening Digital Infrastructure in Nigeria: 1000 New Telecom Towers

03/04/2026 - Sectors

Monetary Policy: Central Bank Eases Key Interest Rate

03/04/2026 - Sectors

Private Sector: AfDB and APIM Strengthen Partnership to Mobilize More Funding

03/04/2026 - Sectors

Housing Finance in Abidjan: Shelter Afrique to set up in Côte d'Ivoire

03/04/2026 - Sectors

Agriculture: $98 million for an agricultural mechanization program in Central African Republic

03/04/2026 - Sectors

Nigerian Agricultural Sector: World Bank Approves $500 Million Credit

03/04/2026 - Sectors

Return on Investment: BOA Côte d'Ivoire Announces $47.5 Million in Dividends