Breaking News Today – Tuesday 19 May 2026

African Start-up News Headlines:

• Egyptian GrowthLabs, the parent platform company behind CatalystOS, has acquired Startup Gate in a deal worth nearly EGP 35 M ($656K) to build a unified digital infrastructure for startups across the MENA region. The integration aims to streamline fragmented startup data and provide end-to-end visibility from discovery to funding readiness.
• West African Development Bank (BOAD) and Proparco have launched a landmark EUR 200 million cross-financing agreement aimed at boosting private-sector financing across the WAEMU region. BOAD said the structure will support transformative private-sector projects and economic integration across WAEMU.

Business News Today 

Bitcoin Drops to Two-Week Low

Yesterday saw Bitcoin prices fall to its lowest level in over than two weeks as a pullback in demand amid turmoil in the Middle East prompted traders to cut back on their holding positions. In a volatile trading day, over $800 million in Bitcoin holding positions were unwound in the past 24 hours, according to Coinglass crypto sales data.The global cryptocurrency leader dropped by 2.9% to as low as $76 009 on Monday(19 May), the lowest price level since April 30, before clawing back some ground. Bitcoin has opened trading today around the $76 770 mark. Other crypto coins, including Ether and Solana, also saw trade prices fall and most major crypto currencies are in the red today.

Pick n Pay to Unload More Boxer Shares

To unlock some cash for its group turnaround strategy, South African Retailer Pick n Pay announced yesterday it would sell a further 11.5 percent stake in Boxer, valued at nearly R5 billion. Pick n Pay sold 57.3 million Boxer shares, cutting its stake to just over 53 percent, while retaining control. The move has caused concern for the shareholders as Boxer is at this point the most profitable entity within the Pick n Pay group. The group says the proceeds will be used to strengthen its recovery plan after a difficult period that saw it lose market share and post heavy losses. The retailer says its focus on upgrading its product offering and cutting underperforming outlets is driving better sales. Meanwhile, Boxer continues to outperform, with rapid store expansion and strong growth.Both Pick n Pay and Boxer shares saw a drop yesterday with concerns raised about the possibility that a good investment is being used to try and save a poorer one.

Fuel Prices drive up South African Port Charges

Historically record high diesel prices introduces in May in South Africa, are set to cease downstream inflationary pressures via South Africa’s shipping and transport sector. Transnet Port Terminals has announced it will hike its fuel neutrality charge. The surcharge will increase to R78 per container from 1 June, up from R52 earlier this month. The adjustment is linked to diesel price thresholds, with current levels nearing a higher bracket that could push the charge beyond R100 per container in July, with additional fuel increases expected. Brent Crude prices have remained above $110 per barrel this week with additional concerns that the Iran / US conflict could escalate.

Breaking Business and Market News Shorts:  

• China’s Shanghai Composite fell 0.5% to 4,150 on Wednesday, while the Shenzhen Component slipped 0.2% to 15,534, with both benchmarks reversing gains from the previous session as a global bond selloff dampened risk sentiment. Surging oil prices and persistent inflation concerns tied to the prolonged Middle East conflict pushed global bond yields to multi-year highs,
• Silver futures traded below $74 an ounce this morning, after shedding more than -5% in the previous trading session, as escalating tensions between the US and Iran kept markets focused on inflation risks and the likelihood of higher interest rates. President Donald Trump warned that the US could resume strikes on Iran within “two or three days” if Tehran failed to accept Washington’s peace terms.
• Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 1.6% to around 59,600 on Wednesday, while the broader TOPIX declined 1.3% to 3,800, with both benchmarks hitting multi-week lows as they tracked overnight losses on Wall Street. The selloff came as global bond yields climbed sharply amid mounting inflation concerns tied to the Iran war. 
• US stock futures were little changed this morning as investors awaited Nvidia’s latest earnings results for fresh clues on the strength of artificial intelligence-driven demand. Several other major companies are also scheduled to report quarterly earnings, including The TJX Companies, Analog Devices, Lowe’s, Target and Intuit. In regular trading on Tuesday

Markets by Numbers 

Currency markets indicate the US dollar strengthening against major currencies today. The Greenback is trading against the Euro at 1.16382 while trading against the Pound at 1.34060. The Yen is currently trading at 158.99 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR), is currently trading around the 16.65 mark against the US dollar this morning.

Commodities:  

• Gold futures are trending around -0.4% lower this morning, and currently trading at around $4471.03 per ounce.  
• Copper prices have slid by around -0.57% today, with prices currently around $6.1312 per pound
• Silver futures are trending around 0.56% higher today, and currently trading at around $74.120 per ounce.
• Platinum futures have fallen by around -1% this morning, and currently trading at $1924.00, While Palladium prices are trending 0.2% higher, and currently trading around $1367.50 per ounce.
• Brent crude oil prices are trending -0.48% lower today, and currently trading around $110.72. WTI is trading lower at $103.13 currently
• Cocoa futures have clawed back losses and are up around 3% this morning, and currently trading around $3907 per ton. 
• Coffee futures are trending around 2% higher today, and currently trading at around $2.7015 per pound

Crypto Currencies: 

• Bitcoin prices are trending 0.4% higher after steep losses yesterday, and trading at around $77 109 per coin currently 
• Ether prices are trending upwards today, and currently trading around $2124.82
• $Trumpcoin are currently trading lower at around $2.040

(All prices quoted at approximately 07H50 Central African Time) 

African General News Briefs:

• Marocco’s Royal Air Maroc is set to add 32 more flights to the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to help transport Moroccan fans supporting the Atlas Lions during the tournament’s group stage.The airline says the extra flights will run between June 13 and June 27, connecting Casablanca with New York, Boston, and, for the first time, Atlanta, all host cities for Morocco’s matches. More than 8,800 additional seats will be made available as demand surges ahead of the global event hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
• Johannesburg could see power supply from state owned energy generation company Eskom, being throttled back due to unpaid utility fees. Eskom issued a statement yesterday, indicating that the City of Johannesburg and its power utility ​City Power owed it an arrear debt of ​5.26 billion rand ($315.26 million). A further 1.58 ⁠billion rand will fall due at the beginning of June. The city has battled with illegal power connections and municipal collection services are weak.