African markets are navigating a mix of inflation concerns, capital-raising activity and corporate expansion. Kenya’s banks are pushing for higher interest rates as oil-driven inflation resurfaces, while the Africa Finance Corporation has secured a major funding boost from international lenders betting on the continent’s infrastructure story.
Meanwhile, currency volatility linked to the Iran conflict continues to test policymakers, even as African corporates pursue regional expansion and international companies deepen their presence on the continent’s capital markets.
Here are the stories that shaped the first week of June
Kenya’s lenders seek first rate hike since 2024 amid oil-driven inflation
The Kenya Bankers Association has urged the Central Bank of Kenya to raise its benchmark interest rate at next week’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting, citing renewed inflationary pressures from higher oil prices, slowing economic activity and rising import costs. The association said a modest increase in the Central Bank Rate would help anchor inflation expectations and preserve price stability as the economic impact of the Iran conflict feeds into fuel and transport costs.
