Breaking News Today – Wednesday 15 October 2025

Business News Today

Asian Shares Swing Higher After a Wobbly Day on Wall Street

Stocks in Asian markets have rebounded today, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 rising 1.3% to 47,463.31, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gaining 1.2% to 25,749.13, and South Korea’s Kospi jumping 1.9% to 3,629.42, offsetting U.S. market volatility. The upswing followed a wobbly Wall Street session, where the S&P 500 fell 0.2% to 6,644.31 amid renewed U.S.-China trade tensions, impacting tech stocks like Nvidia, down by -2.6%, and Broadcom loosing -3.5%. Hopes for Federal Reserve rate cuts, signalled by Chair Jerome Powell’s concerns over employment risks, boosted sentiment, with traders anticipating two more rate reductions this year. Gold has surged above $4,200 per ounce as a hedge against uncertainties, while oil prices dipped. A U.S. government shutdown has disrupted economic data, complicating tariff impact assessments and Fed decisions, potentially leading to higher consumer costs if retaliatory measures escalate.

Moody’s Says Weak Investment Hurts South Africa’s Credit Rating Prospects

A senior analyst at international ratings agency moody’s, Evan Wohlmann, has emphasised that boosting economic growth is essential for South Africa to regain its investment-grade credit rating, lost in March 2020. The country currently holds a Ba2 rating with a stable outlook, with the next review set for early December. Reforms in logistics and energy are expected to lift growth to 1.6% in 2025 from 1% this year, but weak investment poses a major barrier. Foreign direct investment dropped to $2.5 billion in 2024, the lowest in seven years and down 29% from 2023, per the UN’s World Investment Report 2025. Insufficient private infrastructure spending limits potential growth to around 2%. The result being that downward rating pressure could arise from the deteriorating economic growth, weakening fiscal strength, or from reform setbacks. S&P rates South Africa BB-/B with a positive outlook, while Fitch assigns BB- with stable

Banks from Egypt, Kenya, and Nigeria Dominate Africa’s Top 100 Banks’ Ranking for 2025

Various banks from Egypt, Kenya, and Nigeria dominate the 2025 Top 100 African Banks ranking, highlighting their rising financial influence. Egypt leads with 17 entries, including National Bank of Egypt (#2) and Banque Misr (#7), both posting over $2 billion in profits, followed by Kenya and Nigeria with 10 each. North Africa holds 42 spots, contributing $57.9 billion in Tier 1 capital, the highest regionally. East Africa, spearheaded by Kenya’s Equity Bank and KCB Group, has 21 entries, up from 13 in 2022, while West Africa, anchored by Nigeria’s Zenith Bank (#11), Guaranty Trust Bank (#13), and Access Bank (#15), accounts for 16 banks and 15% of total assets.

The top 100 banks collectively hold $126 billion in Tier 1 capital, a slight increase from $120 billion in 2024 but below 2022’s $135.3 billion, amid global headwinds, digital shifts, and fintech competition. South Africa’s Standard Bank Group retains #1 with $11.7 billion in capital and $2.7 billion profit, maintaining regional dominance. This diversity signals a shifting balance of power, with East Africa’s rapid growth and pan-African players like Ecobank (#14) enhancing connectivity under AfCFTA.

Major Auto Industry Investment in US

Stellantis, the international automaker that owns Chrysler, Jeep, and Ram, has announced that it will invest $13 billion to expand its U.S. manufacturing over the next four years as part of a broader revival plan directed by its new CEO. Five new vehicle models are to be developed and produced through 2029 as part of the investment into manufacturing plants in Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. The investment will also support the production of a new four-cylinder engine and reopen the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Illinois, which will allow the automaker to expand production of the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Compass for the U.S. market. In all, more than 5,000 jobs will be created. In a departure from previous investment plans from the global automaker, the new investments will not include pure EV manufacturing developments, but will include a Hybrid EV/Fuel model

Crypto Crash Driven By Shipping Tiff

Bitcoin, the largest crypto currency by value has seen its value slide since Friday last week. The global crypto leader has lost -8.79% in the last week after a bull run on the currency over the previous month. The Coin is currently trading at around $112 433 on this morning, but dropped as low as $110 000 yesterday, while Ether has dropped by -8.2% over the last week and was at one stage trading below $4 000, but is currently trading around $4117. Smaller, more volatile crypto currencies plunged dramatically, pulling the combined market value of all cryptocurrencies down by more than $150 billion over a 24-hour period, according to CoinGecko data.

The slide was triggered when China imposed restrictions on the American Hanwha Ocean Co, one of South Korea’s biggest shipbuilders, hitting back against US measures against the Chinese shipping sector. Earlier, about $19 billion of leveraged crypto positions were liquidated in a crazy selloff that began last week, after US President Donald Trump threatened China with harsher tariffs in response to new export controls. Crypto markets have started to stabilise again today

Breaking News Shorts:  .

• The US government has seized more than $14bn in bitcoin and charged the founder of a Cambodian business empire, the Prince Group, over an alleged cryptocurrency scam.UK and Cambodian national Chen Zhi was charged for allegedly engaging in a wire-fraud conspiracy and money laundering.
• The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has highlighted illicit financial flows out of Nigeria as a key factor exacerbating the country’s revenue challenges, including stolen public funds, criminal proceeds, and untraceable digital transactions like cryptocurrencies.
• South Africa’s National Treasury Director-General Duncan Pieterse stated that the country is on track to meet its key fiscal targets for 2025, including stabilizing the public debt-to-GDP ratio at 77% and expanding the primary budget surplus.
• Nigerian companies are bracing for the highest fraud rates in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2026, with 50% expecting external fraud and 41% anticipating insider threats, surpassing the regional average of 40% and global 30%. This marks an increase from 2024, when 45% faced external fraud, according to The latest World Security Report.
• Botswana is hosting the Global Expo 2025 to enhance intra-African and international trade ties, featuring exhibitors from over 50 countries showcasing innovations in mining, agriculture, and renewable energy.

Markets by Numbers 

Currency markets today indicate the US dollar softer, with the Euro trading against the US dollar at 1.16248 while the Pound is trading at 1.33524 to the US dollar. The Yen is currently trading at 151.15 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR) is currently at R17.3 to the US dollar.

Commodities:  

• Gold futures prices have surged by over 1% again this morning, hitting a new record high, and are currently trading around $4190 per ounce.  
• Copper prices have gained slightly today after a drop yesterday, with prices currently at $4.9925
• Silver futures prices are trending higher, climbing over 1.7% this morning, and currently trading around $52.85
• Platinum futures are trading upwards today, and currently trading at $1666.20, While Palladium prices have surged today, to a three year high, and are currently trading around $1572 per ounce.
• Brent crude oil prices are trending lower this morning, and currently at $62.17 with WTI trading lower at $58.59
• Cocoa futures are trending lower, and are currently trading around $5884.00 per ton. 
• Coffee futures are currently trading just below the key $400 mark at around $399.83

Crypto Currencies: 

• Bitcoin prices are currently trading at around $112630 per coin 
• Ether prices are currently trading around the $4111.38 mark
• $Trumpcoin is trending upwards today, and currently trading around $6.30

(All prices quoted at approximately 07H40 Central African Time) 

Other Headline News in Africa Today

Madagascar Coup Confirmed as Military Take Control

Colonel Michael Randrianirina of an elite military unit announced to the world yesterday that the military forces have taken control of the country. The statement followed a parliamentary vote to impeach President Andry Rajoelina, who has reportedly fled the country amid a growing rebellion within society and the military. “We are establishing a national reform mechanism that responds to the aspirations of the Malagasy people,” Randrianirina declared in front of the presidential palace. He said the existing government structures listed in the 2010 constitution were being dissolved in order to restore democracy and rebuild public trust. Randrianirina also confirmed that the National Assembly would continue its functions and outlined a new transitional structure, which includes a joint presidency, a functioning government, and judicial reform led by the Supreme Constitutional Court.