The archive
Analysis
Everything this desk has published, newest first.
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 together produce most of the world's supply.
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.
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.
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.
The Weekly Pulse: July 7–11, 2026
Copper slips below $9,500 on Chinese demand data, the naira gives up ground, and the NGX All-Share holds a 14% year-to-date gain.
The Weekly Pulse: June 30 – July 4, 2026
Palm oil extends its run to $940/t, robusta coffee firms on Ugandan and Cameroonian supply concerns, and the BRVM Composite holds near 201.
The Weekly Pulse: June 23–27, 2026
Cotton falls below 70 cents, putting pressure on Sahel producers; gold consolidates above $3,200; and the JSE Top 40 holds an 8.6% year-to-date gain.