Market Pulse Africa — Africa's Markets. Real Numbers. Real Time.
Africa's Cocoa Market After the Price Crash: What $4,000/t Means for Cameroon, Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire
After hitting a 46-year high of $11,530 per tonne in June 2024, cocoa futures have fallen sharply. We examine what the correction to around $4,180/t means for the three countries that togeth...
BEAC Rate Decision: What Central Africa's Monetary Policy Means for Borrowing, Investment and the FCFA
The Bank of Central African States sets monetary policy for six CEMAC nations. Its decisions reach corporate borrowing costs, government financing and the investment climate across a region of roughly 55 million people.
Brent Crude at $60: How African Oil Exporters Are Adjusting to a Lower-Price World
The World Bank projects Brent to average $60 per barrel in 2026 — down from $68 in 2025. For Nigeria, Angola and Cameroon, the budget arithmetic is changing.
Commodity tracker
What Africa sells, and what it fetches
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All articles →The Nigerian Naira at 1,590: Currency Depreciation, Inflation and What Investors Need to Know
The naira has depreciated substantially since the June 2023 liberalisation. At roughly 1,590 to the dollar, the trajectory matters for anyone doing business in or with Africa's largest economy.
Ghana's GSE Up 22% YTD: What Is Driving Africa's Best-Performing Exchange in 2026
The GSE Composite has returned approximately 22.4% year to date, making it the continent's strongest market in 2026. We look at the drivers and whether the rally has further to run.
The Weekly Pulse: July 14–18, 2026
Cocoa steadies near $4,180/t, gold holds above $3,290, and the Ghana Stock Exchange extends its lead as the continent's strongest market of 2026.
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The Weekly Pulse
Africa's markets, every Friday. Commodity movements, currency signals, equity performance, and the macro indicators that matter — delivered as a clean, readable digest.
Read the most recent issue: The Weekly Pulse: July 14–18, 2026 →
Currencies
What the continent's money is worth
| Pair | Rate | Change | % | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XAF/USD | 612.40 | up +2.10 | +0.34% | BEAC |
| XOF/USD | 612.40 | up +2.10 | +0.34% | BCEAO |
| NGN/USD | 1,590 | down -12 | -0.75% | CBN |
| ZAR/USD | 18.42 | down -0.08 | -0.43% | SARB |
| GHS/USD | 15.80 | up +0.12 | +0.76% | BOG |
| KES/USD | 129.40 | down -0.60 | -0.46% | CBK |
| ETB/USD | 57.80 | up +0.40 | +0.69% | NBE |
| TZS/USD | 2,680 | up +10 | +0.37% | BoT |
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Gold at $3,290: How Africa's Gold Producers Are Benefiting From the Sustained Price Rally
Gold has traded above $3,000 per troy ounce for most of 2025 and 2026, sustained by central bank buying and safe-haven demand. For South Africa, Ghana, Mali and Tanzania, that is a substantial transfer.
The BRVM at 201: Understanding Francophone West Africa's Regional Stock Exchange
The Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières serves eight West African nations on a single currency. With the composite at around 201.4 and steady institutional interest, it is among the most overlooked equity markets on the continent.
DRC and Zambia's Copper: The Strategic Arithmetic Behind Africa's EV Battery Supply Chain
The Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia together produce over 12% of global copper — a share that puts them at the centre of the energy transition. At approximately $9,420 a tonne, the economics of African copper are being rewritten.
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The Market Pulse Africa Investor Guide covers the practical path to investing across the continent — stock exchanges, bonds, commodities, and what to know before you start.
African equities
Eight exchanges, one table
| Index | Country | Last close | Year to date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
NGX All-Share Index
Nigerian Exchange (NGX)
|
Nigeria | 97,420 | up +14.20% | NGX Group |
|
JSE Top 40
Johannesburg Stock Exchange
|
South Africa | 74,108 | up +8.60% | JSE |
|
GSE Composite Index
Ghana Stock Exchange
|
Ghana | 3,840 | up +22.40% | GSE |
|
BRVM Composite
BRVM
|
Francophone West Africa (8 nations) | 201.40 | up +5.80% | BRVM |
|
DSX Index
Bourse de Douala (DSX)
|
Cameroon | 1,840 | up +3.20% | DSX |
|
DSE All-Share
Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange
|
Tanzania | 2,140 | up +6.10% | DSE |
|
USE All-Share
Uganda Securities Exchange
|
Uganda | 980.00 | up +2.40% | USE |
|
NSE 20 Share Index
Nairobi Securities Exchange
|
Kenya | 1,620 | up +11.80% | NSE |