Refinitiv announces economic data coverage available across Africa

By Pavithra R

Refinitiv, a leading provider of financial markets data and infrastructure has announced the expansion of its economic data coverage across Africa.

The new data set comprises 500,000 nationally sourced time series data covering 54 African nations and allows central bankers, economists, investment managers, and research teams to use Refinitiv Datastream analytical data for detailed exploration of economic relationships and investment opportunities among data series covering the African continent.

Africa continues to develop critical infrastructure, telecommunications, digital technology and access to financial services for its 1.3bn people. Refinitiv Datastream has global macroeconomics coverage to analyze virtually any macro environment, and understand economic cycles to uncover trends and forecast market conditions. Refinitiv Africa economic data coverage:

• Africa economics content comprises around 500,000 nationally sourced time series data covering 54 African nations
• Content is sourced from national statistical offices, central banks and other key national institutions
• The full breadth of economics categories in Datastream including national accounts, money and finance, surveys, labour market, consumer, prices, industry, government and external sectors
• International sources including World Bank, IMF, African Development Bank, OECD, Oxford Economics & more provide comparable data & forecasts across the continent

“Africa’s growing, dynamic and fast-evolving economies makes it a focal point for financial markets today and in the coming decades. As part of LSEG’s commitment to empowering the global markets with accurate and timely data, we are excited about making these unique datasets available via the Refinitiv Data Platform. Our economic data coverage of Africa will provide our customers with deeper and broader inputs for macroeconomic analyses and enable more effective investment strategies and economic research,” said Stuart Brown, Group Head of Enterprise Data Solutions, Refinitiv.

Founded in 2018, Refinitiv provides information, insights, and technology that drive innovation and performance in global financial markets. It has plans to expand to Southeast Asia covering Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Malaysia with delivery expected in 2021. This ensures that the firm will have much needed emerging market economic content.