Africa

Shares in Dis-Chem Pharmacies, the South African retail pharmacy group, closed 16% above their offer price on their debut on Friday, after the company had raised R4.38bn ($305m) by pricing its IPO slightly above the middle of its range on Monday.

In the midst of an aggressive EM bond rout, Egypt was given a much needed boost after the International Monetary Fund approved a three year $12bn loan on Friday.

Dis-Chem Pharmacies, the South African retail pharmacy group, has tightened the price range on its Johannesburg IPO, which values it at up to R16bn ($1.1bn).

Egypt’s return to the Eurobond market could be postponed until next year after its finance ministry raised a further $2bn of funding from international banks.

In this round-up: RMB indices record a stabilisation of the currency against the trade-weighted baskets, Hong Kong RMB deposits increase nearly 2% in September, and the China cross-border interbank payment system (CIPS) expands to 400 indirect participants. Plus, a recap of our top stories this week.

South African Eurobonds rallied a half to three-quarters of a cash point this week after fraud charges against finance minister Pravin Gordhan were dropped on Monday. Now both the sovereign and FirstRand Bank are hitting the road.

Mozambique’s 2023 bond rose five cash points on Wednesday after a government official was reported to have said that principal reductions would not be imposed on creditors, but experts are sceptical and one said the comments could have been “lost in translation”.

October was the busiest month for CEEMEA borrowers on record, with $37.5bn of new bonds issued. Even if Saudi Arabia’s $17.5bn mega deal was not included, volumes were way above the five year average of $14bn. But as the US elections approach, primary issuance has wound down.

South Africa has announced a series of investor meetings that coincides with a half to three-quarters of a cash point rally of the country’s Eurobonds after fraud charges against finance minister Pravin Gordhan were dropped on Monday.

The IPO of Dis-Chem Pharmacies, the South African retail pharmacy group, was covered at its largest possible size two working days into the bookbuild, as the South African rand rallied on news that finance minister Pravin Gordhan will no longer face fraud charges.

The African Export-Import Bank has launched its new money loan into general syndication with 12 lead banks for three tranches of two and three years.

South African assets rallied on Monday after its National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) dropped fraud charges against embattled finance minister Pravin Gordhan, setting a stronger tone for FirstRand Bank to engage with investors next week.