Observer Money

Staff Writer  The Namibia Stock Exchange overall market index rose 0.97% in the latest trading session, supported by gains in basic materials and a stable performance from local counters in the week ending 21 August. The Overall Index (N098) increased by 23.33 points to 2,426.60 from 2,403.27 previously, extending its gain since December 2025 to 13.32%. The Local Index (N099), which tracks locally listed companies, was largely unchanged, edging up 0.44 points, or 0.05%, to 851.48. The index has gained 5.41% since December 2025. Basic materials was the strongest-performing sector, rising 4.79% to 913.34. The sector has gained 27.66% since…

Staff Writer  Old Mutual Namibia has reaffirmed its commitment to meaningful community development through a sponsorship of N$80 000 towards the third edition of the Standard Bank Padel for Purpose, taking place on 11 and 12 September in Windhoek. Old Mutual Namibia's Corporate Segment and Personal Finance business units have each contributed N$40 000, demonstrating a shared commitment to supporting initiatives that create meaningful and lasting impact in communities across Namibia. Padel for Purpose forms part of Standard Bank Namibia's Buy-a-Brick Programme, a corporate social investment initiative implemented in partnership with the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia. Since its inception…

Staff Writer  Namibia will remain one of the primary markets for PSG Financial Services Limited after the company announced plans to withdraw its ordinary shares from the Official Market of the Stock Exchange of Mauritius (SEM), while retaining its listings on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) and the Namibian Securities Exchange (NSX). The withdrawal from the SEM was approved by the company’s shareholders at its 2026 annual general meeting and was subsequently approved by the Listing Executive Committee of the SEM on 20 August 2026. The delisting will take effect after market close on 31 August 2026. From that date,…

CHAMWE KAIRA  Namibia’s hospitality sector recorded its strongest July performance since before the Covid-19 pandemic, with national room occupancy rising to 62.63% in July 2026, according to the latest data from the Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN). The July occupancy rate was 3.03 percentage points above the 59.60% recorded in July 2019 and also surpassed the 61.07% recorded in July 2025, indicating continued recovery and strengthening demand for accommodation across the country. The performance followed a strong second quarter, when national room occupancy reached 57.18% across 140 reporting properties, making the second quarter the strongest second quarter on record for…

CHAMWE KAIRA Namibia’s emerging oil and gas industry is entering a defining phase, with government and industry leaders increasingly shifting the conversation from the excitement of offshore discoveries to the harder question of how those resources will translate into lasting economic benefits for Namibians. That message was at the centre of the second day of the Namibia Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition (NOGC) in Windhoek, where the Strategic and Technical Conferences officially opened on 19 August, bringing together government officials, investors, industry executives and innovators. For Namibia, the challenge is particularly significant as the country prepares for a potential…

Staff Writer  Namibia’s vehicle market recorded its strongest July since comparable records began, with 1 535 units registered during the month, up 17.6% from 1 305 units in July 2025, according to the latest monthly market analysis by Simonis Storm.  The July result represented a month-on-month increase of 0.8%. It was the fifth consecutive month in 2026 in which vehicle registrations exceeded 1 200 units, pointing to a sustained recovery in demand following the pandemic-era downturn. A total of 9380 vehicles were registered during the first seven months of 2026, about 13% ahead of the corresponding period last year. The…

Staff Writer  Namibia’s emerging oil and gas industry, green hydrogen developments and expanding mining activity could create a multi-decade construction and infrastructure pipeline that significantly exceeds what is currently reflected in monthly building approval statistics, according to Simonis Storm. In its latest macro insights, Simonis Storm said Namibia’s position as a resource economy in transition was creating a structural demand pipeline for infrastructure and construction, with potential implications for economic growth and investment over the long term. The research house identified green hydrogen as one of the largest prospective sources of construction demand. The Hyphen Hydrogen Energy project in the…

Staff Writer Trustco Group Holdings has issued a further cautionary announcement to shareholders regarding its minority equity interest in Meya Mining Limited based in Sierra Leone and a loan receivable from the company. Trustco said there had been no material change to the position disclosed in its previous cautionary announcement dated 8 July 2026. The group said the caution relates to matters involving Meya Mining, including Trustco’s minority equity interest in the company and its loan receivable from Meya Mining. “Trustco will make a further announcement once there is sufficient certainty regarding the matters previously disclosed,” the company said. The…

Staff Writer  Namibia’s non-bank financial sector has grown to more than N$552.8 billion in assets, while the country’s broader capital market ecosystem is estimated at about N$338.2 billion, highlighting the growing role of non-bank institutions in mobilising savings and financing economic activity, according to Imanuel Hawanga, general manager of capital markets at Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (NAMFISA).  Collective investment schemes are among the significant components of the sector. By the end of 2025, these schemes managed approximately N$123.4 billion in assets, an increase of 19.2% from the previous year. Of the assets managed by collective investment schemes, 56.5% were…

Staff Writer  The Trans-Kalahari Railway (TKR) project has moved into its procurement phase after a feasibility study found that the proposed 1 850-kilometre corridor is technically feasible, economically justified and capable of generating positive operating returns. The ministry of works and transport said the feasibility study supports the development of the railway that is intended to improve access to major coal, copper and iron ore deposits in Botswana while strengthening the Port of Walvis Bay’s role as a regional import and export hub. The proposed funding structure is a public-private partnership (PPP) concession model, although the governments involved will still…