The decline of African capital markets is a serious issue with many causes. The evidence is the declining number of listings and the complete absence of capital raising through stock exchanges. First, high inflation and heavy government borrowing block equity markets growth. This limits private capital investment. Next, the cost of trading shares is high, which stops people from buying and selling as often as they might.
Market structures are also unbalanced. Foreign investors face limits, fx and tax costs are high, and there is too much regulatory interference. These issues lead to low liquidity, so companies have small, narrow groups of shareholders. Poor investor relations practices make things worse because investors don’t get enough information or access to easy cost-effective trading. This lowers overall trust and makes people less likely to invest.
Due to low trading, shares are undervalued, and company-led share buybacks take even more shares off the market. This further limits trading and weakens liquidity.
Finally, many companies decide to de-list, which reduces the number of options for investors. Markets go backwards.
No listings, no capital raising, no investment.
If these structural problems continue, they will hurt the health and future of African public capital markets.
There is an anti-dote, of sorts.