How technology is weaving African markets into the global fabric [Article]

Countries on the continent have been focusing on building sophisticated electronic trading capabilities – powered by historical and real-time data – to strengthen the bridge between Africa and other global markets, offer more bespoke trading solutions to clients, and meet evolving requirements.

At the forefront of electronic trading in Africa is South Africa, where brokers are harnessing the power of machine learning to gain deeper insights, optimise trading strategies, and enhance key decision-making processes – such as risk management, text analysis, and microstructure analysis.

But while South Africa has successfully positioned itself to rival developed markets, access to and between other African markets has previously proven challenging for global buy-side institutions.

Trade automation and enrichment are also sweeping through South Africa, driving the region forward to the next stage of electronic trading and bringing the market to a level playing field with other, more developed nations.

As the South African ecosystem continues to advance its electronic trading infrastructure, it is becoming a market to watch for overseas investors

International investors are voicing their growing need for electronic market connectivity across the African continent, an area that the South African ecosystem is primed to fulfil.

The next wave is to roll out electronic trading capabilities further, helping investors to access lucrative – yet often untapped – markets