Business News Today
Surge in Africa’s China Imports Fuels Trade Deficit Alarms
Africa’s imports from China jumped 25% in the first half of 2025, sparking urgent calls to address widening trade deficits that now exceed $100 billion annually. Key sectors like electronics and machinery dominate, outpacing exports of raw materials. Policymakers in Nigeria and South Africa advocate for value-added processing and tariff reforms under AfCFTA. Economists warn of currency pressures and job losses in local industries. Initiatives like intra-African trade pacts aim to rebalance flows, but implementation lags. This imbalance underscores the need for diversified partnerships to foster sustainable growth.
Nissan Rebounds in China with Affordable Localised EV’s
In a major turn-around in trading data, Nissan’s sales in China have surged 12% year-over-year, fuelled by low-cost, locally produced electric vehicles tailored to consumer preferences. The Sylphy EV model captured 8% market share, undercutting rivals on price and features. Amid U.S.-China trade frictions, Nissan’s Shanghai plant ramped output, creating 5,000 jobs. CEO Makoto Uchida credited adaptive strategies for the turnaround after prior slumps in their global vehicle sales that had resulted in massive job lay-offs and plant closures this year. This success bolsters Nissan’s global EV ambitions, with exports up 20%. However, intensifying competition from BYD will pose challenges moving ahead, but positions Nissan well in the entry EV market.
Wall Street Indexes Close at Record Highs After Fed Rate Cut
Wall Street’s major indexes achieved record-high closes on September 18, propelled by the U.S. Federal Reserve’s 25-basis-point interest rate cut—the first in over four years. This move signaled confidence in cooling inflation without derailing economic growth. Investors cheered the decision, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq surging over 1%. Chipmaker Intel’s shares jumped 4% after Nvidia announced a significant stake acquisition, boosting semiconductor sector optimism. Broader market sentiment remains buoyant, though analysts caution on potential volatility from upcoming earnings and geopolitical tensions. The Dow Jones also hit a milestone, reflecting sustained corporate resilience amid easing monetary policy.
DBS, Franklin Templeton, and Ripple Launch Tokenised Money Market Fund
Singapore’s DBS Bank, Franklin Templeton, and Ripple unveiled a tokenised money market fund trading platform, pioneering blockchain integration in asset management. The initiative allows real-time settlements and 24/7 access, targeting institutional investors. Backed by $100 million in initial assets, it leverages Ripple’s ledger for efficiency. Regulators hailed the innovation as a step toward democratizing finance. Shares of involved firms rose modestly. As crypto adoption grows, this could disrupt traditional funds, reducing costs by up to 50%. The launch aligns with Asia’s fintech boom.
Breaking News Shorts:
- Intel Rises on Nvidia’s Strategic Stake Acquisition: Intel’s stock climbed sharply following Nvidia’s decision to take a substantial equity stake, aiming to deepen collaboration in AI and chip manufacturing.
- TikTok US Ownership Deal Being Finalised: The US and China are close to finalising a deal to restructure TikTok’s US operations, aiming to ease US national security concerns while maintaining market access. A consortium led by Oracle is now expected to take over TikTok US shortly.
- Nigeria’s Remote Work Boom Drives Digital Economy Shift: Nigeria’s remote work adoption exploded 40% in 2025, propelled by tech infrastructure upgrades and post-pandemic flexibility. Platforms like Upwork reported 200,000 freelancers, generating $1 billion in earnings.
- Hong Kong shares rose 68 points or 0.3% to 26,617 on Friday morning trade: Share on the Hong Kong bourse rebounded today from a 1.4% slump in the previous session as bargain hunters stepped in. Record highs for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq overnight supported the positive sentiment, a day after the Fed cut rates for the first time in nine months.
- Indian fintech startup Jar Profitable on Gold Savings Offer: Jar has turned profitable by helping millions of first-time savers use its app to build digital gold holdings. It has gained traction by offering a culturally familiar asset — gold — as a low-barrier entry point to saving. The four-year-old startup targets low- to middle-income users —a segment often underserved by traditional financial institutions
Markets by Numbers
Currency markets today indicate the Euro is trading stronger against the US dollar at 1.17749 and the Pound is trading at 1.35470. to the US dollar. The Yen is currently trading at 147.45 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR) is currently at R17.36 to the US dollar.
Commodities:
- Gold futures prices are trending higher today, and are currently trading around $3657.85 per ounce.
- Copper prices are trading higher this morning, with prices currently at $4.5568
- Silver futures prices have surged again today rising by over 1.1% this morning, and is currently trading at $42.317
- Platinum futures are trading upwards today, and are currently trading at $1397.00, While Palladium prices are trading 0.9% higher this morning and currently at $1171.00
- Brent crude oil prices are currently trending lower today, and currently at $67.36, with WTI trading at $63.44
- Cocoa futures have dropped by over -2% this morning, and are currently at $7229.00 per ton.
- Coffee futures have dropped slightly today, and are currently at $380.78
Crypto Currencies:
- Bitcoin prices are currently trending fairly flat today, and trading at $117006
- Ether prices have fallen by -0.9% today and are currently at $4549.80
- $Trumpcoin is trending upwards today, and currently around $8.57
(All prices quoted at approximately 07H20 Central African Time)
Other Headline News in Africa Today
Uganda’s Infrastructure Projects Probe Identifies Cost Inflation Issues
A parliamentary probe revealed Ugandan infrastructure developments cost up to three times international benchmarks, due to corruption, inefficiencies, and procurement flaws. Road and energy projects totaling $2 billion faced scrutiny, with markups from inflated contracts. Lawmakers have demanded audits and digital tendering to curb losses. The scandal has eroded investor confidence amid $1.5 billion in annual foreign aid. President Museveni has pledged reforms, however critics cite systemic graft within the administration. Operational streamlining could save the country a substantial $500 million yearly, boosting sectors like agriculture. The probe has exposed broader governance challenges in East Africa’s development trajectory and requires committed ethical leadership to turn the corner and ensure projects do not simply become funding funnels for corrupt officials but see better value transferred to the broader communities.
