African central banks set to hold interest rates

Key Takeaways

We’ve covered benchmark interest rates movement across African economies to a greater extent recently. But what are they and how does their direction impact the economic and investing landscape? Monetary policy rates, set by a central bank, influence borrowing costs in an economy. When rates go down, borrowing is cheaper, encouraging spending and investment, which can boost economic growth and stock markets. Conversely, raising rates makes borrowing more expensive, potentially slowing down the economy and causing stock markets to dip. These rate changes affect everything from home loans to business investments. Investors must watch these rates closely because they impact returns on savings, bonds, and stocks, shaping their overall investment decisions.