(Ecofin Agency) - Value losses on Africa’s stock markets reached $142.6 billion in the first quarter this year, according to data from Capital IQ. Nearly 716 listed companies saw a value dip between January 1 and March 31 this year.

For 110 companies, no particular evolution was observed on the markets while 143 others experienced growth. For all stock markets on the continent, this makes an improvement of $8.8 billion for a net loss of $133.8 billion.

For about 543 of these companies, the decline in stock market valuation is above 10%. Although experts did not particularly comment on this value decline, it is strongly linked to the triple shock of the decline in oil products, the economic impacts of the coronavirus and the almost simultaneous restrictions on economic activities around the world.

In 2019, many African governments continued to work to stabilize their heavy debt burdens and reduce pressures on their credit profiles. These plans were generally based on assumptions of broadly stable economic and financial conditions. The current shocks are putting strong pressure on the ability of these countries to rapidly reduce public spending and redirect fiscal policies.

Idriss Linge