06/04/2026 - Economy/Forex

Kenyan Banks: Profits Soar§§§--=--§§§<p class="MsoNormal">The Kenyan banking sector confirms its solidity. In 2025, the country's banks recorded historic profits despite a context marked by falling interest rates, illustrating a gradual transformation of their economic model and strong resilience.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">According to data compiled by Abojani Investment Limited, the cumulative net after-tax profit of 11 listed banks jumped by 15.7%, reaching 280.4 billion Kenyan shillings (2.16 billion dollars), compared to 242.3 billion (1.86 billion dollars) in 2024.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">This performance marks a clear recovery after the levels observed in previous years, notably 83 billion shillings in 2020 and 143 billion in 2021. The institutions concerned include Equity Group Holdings, KCB Group, Co-operative Bank of Kenya, NCBA Group, Absa Bank Kenya, and Standard Chartered Kenya.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">According to analysts, this dynamic is largely explained by a more stable macroeconomic context. Inflation has returned to the Central Bank of Kenya's targets, while interest rates have fallen, the currency has stabilized, and economic activity has strengthened.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">"These factors have collectively supported strong banking results," emphasized Purity Chege, referring to an overall improvement in the operational environment.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">Beyond the economic situation, the transformation of the revenue model also explains these performances. Banks are less and less dependent on interest income, with growth now coming more from non-credit sources.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">Faced with moderate loan expansion, institutions have strengthened their operational efficiency and diversified their activities, particularly by favoring low-risk investments and ancillary revenues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="en-US">Solid Prospects Despite Uncertainties<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">With more than seven banks having equity capital exceeding 100 billion shillings, the sector appears well-capitalized and capable of absorbing potential shocks. Nine of the eleven banks have seen their profits increase, with their revenues exceeding their expenses.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="en-US">Despite international uncertainties, particularly those related to tensions in the Middle East, Kenyan banks thus appear well-positioned to maintain their momentum, supported by comfortable liquidity and solid fundamentals.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

03/04/2026 - Economy/Forex

Currency: yuan strengthens as dollar stabilizes§§§--=--§§§<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">This Friday, the </span><span style="font-size:14.0pt; line-height:107%;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">Chinese yuan</span><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">&nbsp;strengthened against the dollar, as the American currency stabilized and attention turned to the release of US employment data later in the day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The dollar stabilized on Friday after gaining on Thursday, as Trump's threat to bomb Iran "back to the Stone Age" heightened risks in a war now in its fifth week, dashing hopes for a swift resolution to a conflict that is squeezing oil supplies and fueling inflation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six currencies, was up 0.058% at 100.04.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The dollar had jumped the previous day on safe-haven demand, when US President Donald Trump indicated that the Iranian conflict would drag on.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The yuan is expected to remain resilient in the second quarter, supported by China's high energy self-sufficiency rate, its significant strategic reserves, and growing demand for renewable energy, MUFG analysts said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family: &quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif">The spot yuan opened at 6.8930 per dollar on Friday and was last trading 37 pips stronger than the previous session's close.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p> <span style="font-size:14.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:&quot;Bookman Old Style&quot;,serif; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:FR; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">The offshore yuan traded at 6.8846 yuan per dollar, up about 0.1% in Asian markets.</span></p>

01/04/2026 - Economy/Forex

Currency: US dollar stable, Australian, New Zealand dollars and yen rising

30/03/2026 - Economy/Forex

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30/03/2026 - Economy/Forex

Currencies: Mixed performance recorded this Monday

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12/03/2026 - Economy/Forex

12/03/2026 - Economy/Forex