Nigeria looks set to overtake South Africa as the continent's biggest issuer of local government debt with a planned $650 million auction by one of its states in October, but sub-national bonds remain far off for much of Africa.

The rate of return on foreign investment is higher in Africa than in any other developing region. Global executives and investors must pay heed

Africa is on the brink of an era of unprecedented growth, but it is still hampered by “woeful” progress on trade reform and broken promises by the world’s wealthiest countries, an international commission has concluded.

Nigeria will stop issuing universal banking licences next month and enforce new minimum capital requirements for lenders in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year's near collapse of several banks.

African equity funds have attracted net new cash in 51 of the last year's 52 weeks, EPFR Global has said, underscoring the evolution of the continent's frontier markets as a serious investment play.

Global demand for natural resources will bring benefits to Africa - increased FDI and improved balance of trade figures - but one of the main concerns is that the scramble for Africa is fuelling corruption, environmental degradation, and internal dissent, writes Ravinder Rena.

Private equity funds in Africa are soaring, the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) said on Tuesday, describing the development as the "African investment story to watch". (Reuters)

For four consecutive years, Africa has experienced record economic growth. Overall in 2007 the continent registered 5.7 per cent GDP growth and a per capita increase of 3.7 per cent. Indications are that growth will only accelerate in 2008 and remain buoyant in 2009. (OECD)

Though painful for consumers, soaring oil prices - along with increasing grain and metal prices - are not universally bad news. (BBC)

The slave trade was a crucial part of the development of international capitalism. The role of African ruling classes in the trade was not very different from the position of contemporary African elites. They both traded the resources of their people for self-gratification, argues Tunde Obadina.