The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) left its benchmark rate, the minimum cash rate for tenders, at 2.50 percent and lowered its 2017 growth forecast slightly while forecasting that inflation should 1.7 percent over the next two years, in line with its objective.

Opera, the developer of the most popular mobile browser in Africa, has announced plans to open offices in Kenya and Nigeria as it invests $100 million (10.3 billion Kenyan Shillings) over the next two years to facilitate the growth of African digital economy. The company will use the investment to speed up internet adoption in Africa and strengthen the internet ecosystem with local partners.

Anglo­ Dutch petroleum giant Shell has sealed a deal to sell its remaining 20 per cent shareholding in Vivo Energy for $250 million (Sh25.5 billion) to Dutch firm Vitol Group, after getting approval from regulators.

Economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is rebounding in 2017 after registering the worst decline in more than two decades in 2016, according to the new Africa’s Pulse, a bi-annual analysis of the state of African economies conducted by the World Bank.