Валюты Уганды и Ганы могут ослабнуть на фоне спроса на доллары, курсы Кении и Замбии останутся стабильными

KAMPALA, Sept 3 (Reuters) – The currencies of Uganda and Ghana could weaken further in the next week to Thursday, while those of Kenya and Zambia are expected to remain broadly stable, traders said. UGANDA Uganda’s shilling is seen maintaining its recent losing streak in the days ahead on the back of strong appetite for hard currency from energy importers. At 0918 GMT commercial banks quoted the shilling at 3,780/3,790, compared to last Thursday’s close of 3,750/3,760. “I expect this demand to persist in the coming days because of the volatility and uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East,” said an independent foreign exchange trader in the capital Kampala. GHANA Ghana’s cedi could weaken again against the U.S. dollar next week, due to continued strong import-driven demand for hard currency from businesses on the interbank market. LSEG data showed the cedi trading at 11.30 to the dollar on Thursday, compared to 11.20 a week earlier. “The dollar is likely to edge higher against the cedi in the coming week as corporate FX demand for imports remains firm, alongside demand from foreign portfolio investors for coupon repatriation,” Andrews Akoto, head of trading at Absa Bank Ghana, said. “Recent central bank FX auctions have attracted strong bidding interest,” he added. Another trader said persistent demand for dollars at current levels would likely push the cedi weaker in the short term. KENYA Kenya’s shilling is expected to hold steady against the greenback. Commercial banks quoted the shilling at 129.35/55 per dollar, compared with last Thursday’s closing rate of 129.30/50. “For next week, I expect the same trend to continue,” a trader at one commercial bank said. ZAMBIA The kwacha is likely to continue trading within the current levels next week supported by high copper prices and reduced speculative pressure. On Thursday, commercial banks quoted the currency of Africa’s second-largest copper producer at 19.37 per dollar from 19.18 a week ago. “Since the start of the month, the kwacha has traded in a relatively consolidative manner,” Access Bank said in a note. Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday, while his main rival was in prison on treason charges, the conclusion of a chaotic vote observers said was marred by serious irregularities.