<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
        {font-family:"Cambria Math";
        panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:Calibri;
        panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:Verdana;
        panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
@font-face
        {font-family:"Trebuchet MS";
        panose-1:2 11 6 3 2 2 2 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
        {margin:0cm;
        margin-bottom:.0001pt;
        font-size:11.0pt;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
h1
        {mso-style-priority:9;
        mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
        mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
        margin-right:0cm;
        mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
        margin-left:0cm;
        font-size:24.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.MsoBodyText, li.MsoBodyText, div.MsoBodyText
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        mso-style-link:"Body Text Char";
        mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
        margin-right:0cm;
        mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
        margin-left:0cm;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
        mso-fareast-language:X-NONE;}
p.MsoSubtitle, li.MsoSubtitle, div.MsoSubtitle
        {mso-style-priority:11;
        mso-style-link:"Subtitle Char";
        margin-top:0cm;
        margin-right:0cm;
        margin-bottom:8.0pt;
        margin-left:0cm;
        font-size:11.0pt;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
        color:#5A5A5A;
        letter-spacing:.75pt;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:#0563C1;
        text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
        {mso-style-priority:99;
        color:#954F72;
        text-decoration:underline;}
span.Heading1Char
        {mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
        mso-style-priority:9;
        mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
        mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW;
        font-weight:bold;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
        {mso-style-name:msonormal;
        mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
        margin-right:0cm;
        mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
        margin-left:0cm;
        font-size:12.0pt;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.BodyTextChar
        {mso-style-name:"Body Text Char";
        mso-style-priority:99;
        mso-style-link:"Body Text";
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
        mso-fareast-language:X-NONE;}
span.SubtitleChar
        {mso-style-name:"Subtitle Char";
        mso-style-priority:11;
        mso-style-link:Subtitle;
        font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
        color:#5A5A5A;
        letter-spacing:.75pt;
        mso-fareast-language:EN-ZW;}
span.EmailStyle23
        {mso-style-type:personal;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
        color:windowtext;}
span.style30
        {mso-style-name:style30;}
span.EmailStyle26
        {mso-style-type:personal-reply;
        font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
        color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
        {mso-style-type:export-only;
        font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
        {size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
        margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;}
div.WordSection1
        {page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-ZW link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><div align=center><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width=887 style='width:665.4pt;border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td width=880 colspan=4 valign=top style='width:660.25pt;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><h1 style='margin-left:26.1pt;line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><img width=278 height=111 id="_x0000_i1037" src="cid:image001.png@01D987B5.FD55CFB0"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OLEObject Type="Embed" ProgID="PBrush" ShapeID="_x0000_i1037" DrawAspect="Content" ObjectID="_1745810408">
</o:OLEObject>
</xml><![endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></h1></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr><td width=880 colspan=4 valign=top style='width:660.25pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:solid #D9D9D9 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> </span><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr><td width=880 colspan=4 valign=top style='width:660.25pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><b><u><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#002060;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:26.1pt;text-indent:-1.35pt;line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://www.bullszimbabwe.com"><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0'>Bullszimbabwe.com </span></b><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0;text-decoration:none'> </span></b></a></span><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>      </span></b><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="mailto:bulls@bulls.co.zw"><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0'>Views & Comments</span></b></a></span><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none'>       </span></b></span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://www.bullszimbabwe.com"><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0'>Bullish Thoughts</span></b></a></span><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none'>       </span></b></span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://www.twitter.com/BullsBears2010"><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0'>Twitter</span></b></a></span><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none'>        </span></b></span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BullsBearsZimbabwe"><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0'>Facebook</span></b></a></span><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none'>          </span></b></span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/pub/bulls-n-bears-zimbabwe/57/577/72"><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0'>LinkedIn</span></b></a></span><span class=MsoHyperlink><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;text-decoration:none'>         </span></b></span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="mailto:%20bulls@bullszimbabwe.com?subject=Unsubscribe"><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#0070C0'>Unsubscribe</span></b></a></span><span class=style30><span style='font-size:8.0pt;line-height:105%;color:#00B050'><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr><td width=880 colspan=4 valign=top style='width:660.25pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoSubtitle style='line-height:105%'><span class=style30><b><span style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr><td width=880 colspan=4 valign=top style='width:660.25pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:26.1pt;line-height:105%'><span class=style30><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Bulls n Bears Daily Market Commentary : 16 May 2023</span></b></span><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:1.0pt'><td width=880 colspan=4 valign=top style='width:660.25pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:1.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center;line-height:105%'><img border=0 width=804 height=245 id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image005.jpg@01D98889.98DFC840"><span class=style30><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:1.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> </span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:7.2pt'><td width=881 colspan=5 valign=top style='width:661.0pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:7.2pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><br>ZSE commentary<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>ZSE in the black as bulls rage…<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>The ZSE closed the day in the black as bulls raged on the market  with the All-Share Index putting on 9.50% to close at 74,913.15pts while, the Blue chip Index garnered 11.34% to close at 46,407.04pts buoyed by gains in SeedCo and Econet. The ZSE Agriculture Index gained 1.95% to settle at 252.81pts while, the Mid Cap Index extended prior session gains by 3.24% to close at 130,738.61pts. Headlining the gainers’ list of the day was SeedCo Limited that edged up 14.99% to $340.2000 while, digital group Zimpapers inched up 14.94% to settle at $7.5400. Property concern First Mutual notched up 14.92% to settle at $44.3000 while, Econet continued to enjoy the rising tide as it firmed 14.87% to close at a VWAP of $562.1150. Sugar processor Star Africa ticked up 14.81% to settle at $2.3501.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Cigarette manufacturer BAT led the laggards of the day as it plunged 6.91% to settle at $5,855.5528 while, roofing supplier Turnall dwindled 3.49% to $8.2965. Proplastics parred 0.25% to close at $249.3848 as it capped the worst performers’ list of the day. Activity aggregates improved during the session as demand<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>continued to increase across the market. Volume of shares traded surged 392.71% to see 7.54m share trade while, turnover ballooned by 2086.63% to $4.29bn. Econet was the mostsought-afterstock during the session as it claimed 56.82% of the volume and 56.02% of the turnover. Other volume leaders of the day were OKZim and Delta that contributed a combined 24.29% of the aggregate. Delta contributed 35.41% of the turnover traded. In the ETF category, four of the five listed ETF’s recorded double digit gains in the session. Morgan & Co MCS and Old Mutual Top 10 ETF were the major gainers in the session as they added 13.75% and 13.28% respectively. The Tigere ETF was 14.87% up at $58.1485 on 13,960 units.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>efesecurities<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><a href="mailto:info@bulls.co.zw"><span style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=804 height=268 id="_x0000_i1052" src="cid:image006.jpg@01D98889.98DFC840"></span></a><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Global Currencies & Equity Markets<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>South Africa<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>South African rand dips after unemployment data, turbulent market<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>(Reuters) - South Africa's rand weakened on Tuesday, after data released earlier in the day showed a rise in first-quarter unemployment figures, providing a steer on the health of the local economy after a week of market turbulence.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>At 1515 GMT the rand traded at 19.0900 against the dollar , about 0.34% weaker than Monday's close.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Statistics South Africa on Tuesday released the country's unemployment figures for the January-March period which showed a rise in unemployment to 32.9%, up from 32.7% in the previous quarter (ZAUNR=ECI), (ZAUEMP=ECI).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>The rand was pummelled last week, reaching a record low against the backdrop of power cuts that show no sign of abating and claims that South Africa had provided arms to Russia.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Struggling state power utility Eskom is implementing the worst rolling blackouts on record, leaving businesses and households in the dark for up to 10 hours a day.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>The blackouts are crippling the economy, with JP Morgan predicting that South African economic output would contract this year by 0.2% as a result.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange ended the day down, with both the blue-chip Top-40 index (.JTOPI) and the broader all-share index (.JALSH) closing around 0.4% lower.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond marginally weaker, with the yield up 1 basis points at 10.755%.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Nigeria<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Naira at inflection point, consolidates around N740/$ for six months<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Naira has consolidated at a narrow range – between 730-N750/$ – at the parallel market for upward of six months. It is about the longest stretch the local currency has traded without major volatility (a measure of the extent of deviation from the average) in recent years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Until towards the end of last year, naira traded at a wide swing with each week setting a new price range and the rate changing thrice during some trading sessions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>At the height of the exchange rate crisis, dollar spiked to N880/$. The Guardian reported that whereas politicians were mopping the market to prosecute their political ambitions, speculators had turned the currency into an article of trade.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>But the local currency has gained stability as the year-end approached, marking the end of the high volatility witnessed in the past few years.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Since then, the currency has been cooling, trading at N730-750 in what could be interesting as an inflection point, a curve at which a change of direction is necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Whereas it may be difficult to guess when to expect a clearer market direction (whether naira would gain or lose against a basket of other currencies), the biggest factor that may trigger a change is how the market perceives the next administration in the first few days in office.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Announcing fuel subsidy removal, for instance, could send a strong signal of an administration that is open to bold economic and market reforms. >From Nigerian experts to international fronts, there have been calls on the administration to take courageous decisions that would unlock the potential and set the pace for pro-market reforms.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>In the past eight years, President Muhammadu Buhari has not taken a firm position on the controversial subsidy payment even though it admitted that it is a major drain on public resources. With about two weeks to the end of the last and second tenure, Buhari is counting on his successor to bite the bullet and do away with the social safety net on June 1.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>The World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other development partners whose impressions go a long way in influencing the international investment market are on the wing watching to see how the President-elect, Bola Tinubu handles the issue next month.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>If he makes a good impression, the much-needed foreign capital that would stabilise the troubled currency could start pouring in again. That would imply a much-stronger naira.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>In the past four years, capital inflow has been on a reducing balance. From 2019, when the mandate of the outgoing President, Muhammadu Buhari, was renewed till last year, capital inflow to Nigeria dipped by 78 per cent. >From a record-high of $24 billion, Nigeria received a total inflow of $5.3 billion last year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Whereas the restrictive global monetary framework is partly blamed for the steep fall, some experts also attribute the shortfall to the rigidity of the foreign exchange (FX) market, insecurity, inconsistent policies among others.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Tinubu came in on the mantra of ‘Renewed Hope’. He committed to subsidy removal, market reform, growth of the private sector and liberalisation, which experts believed, could be game changers if implemented.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>But the market has not started pricing in the subsidy removal yet, suggesting that market makers are still uncertain about the near-term outlook, leaving naira to continue to struggle to find a new path.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>If the currency breaks the N750/$ resistant point, analysts forecast, the currency could dip into the N800-N900 range. But historical data do not support a breakdown, at least not in the near term.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>After the 1999 transition to civil rule, the naira steadied against the dollar at N22/$ for a while before it lost hold. A similar trend played out after the 2007 transition. Then, the local currency even gained value, rising from over N120/$ prior to the election to N115/$ until towards the end of 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>When Buhari took up the reins of government in 2015. The path to what later turned out to be one of the steepest falls of the currency was gradual. A few months after Buhari’s inauguration, naira held steadily against its pairs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>If the trend continues, the current stability in the parallel market, especially, could continue in the next few months before naira eventually finds a new path.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><a href="mailto:info@bulls.co.zw"><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=300 height=296 id="_x0000_i1051" src="cid:image004.jpg@01D987B5.FD55CFB0"></span></a><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Global Markets<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Dollar drifts higher as US debt ceiling in spotlight<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>(Reuters) - The dollar edged higher on Tuesday in choppy trading, with no clear direction, as investors kept an eye on debt ceiling talks to avert a possible default that could reverberate across asset markets and damage confidence in the world's largest economy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>The dollar index, a measure of the greenback's value against six major currencies, was up 0.2% on the day at 102.61 . Against the yen, the greenback rose 0.2% to 136.315 yen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Democratic President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy's U.S. debt ceiling negotiations ended on Tuesday after less than an hour, as the looming fear of an unprecedented American debt default prompted Biden to cut short an upcoming Asia trip. But the meeting ended on an upbeat and unexpected note as McCarthy, coming out of the meeting with Biden and other congressional leaders, said, "It is possible to get a deal by the end of the week."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Both parties agree on the need for urgent action.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>"Clearly, to the extent that there is a default risk, it would be chaotic. The question is in a default, can you have Treasuries as collateral in a world that's highly levered?" said Axel Merk, president and chief investment officer at Merk Investments in Palo Alto, California.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Historically speaking, the U.S. dollar tends to rally in times when there is financial stress and in periods of deleveraging as investors scramble to unwind risky bets.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>"But you don't want Treasury bills," Merk said. "So it's very difficult to suggest that we would have a dollar rally in that deleveraging. I would say it's very hard to predict what will happen other than volatility might be dramatic."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>In afternoon trading, the euro slipped 0.1% versus the dollar to $1.0858 , while sterling fell 0.4% to $1.2478 .<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>The dollar earlier rose after U.S. retail sales rose less than expected in April, but details showed that the underlying trend remained solid. This suggested that consumer spending likely remained strong early in the second quarter.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Retail sales rose 0.4% last month. Data for March was revised slightly lower to show sales dropping 0.7% instead of 0.6% as previously reported.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>In line with the generally upbeat economic picture, industrial production jumped 1% in April, easily topping expectations for a flat reading and up slightly from the revised 0.8% increase in March.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>The reports suggested that while the market widely expects the Federal Reserve to pause increasing rates at the next meeting, a hike in borrowing costs was not off the table.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>"While there were some mixed signals in today's various data reports, on net most were favorable and early in the quarter we're continuing to track some upside risk to our 1.0% 1Q GDP growth projection," wrote Michael Feroli, chief U.S. economist at J.P. Morgan, in a research note.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>"Even so, given all the dark clouds on the horizon, we continue to see the Fed on hold at the next meeting in mid-June."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Richmond Federal Reserve President Thomas Barkin on Tuesday doubled down though on the higher-for-longer mantra. He said he likes the "optionality" implied in the central bank's latest policy statement, but he is "comfortable" with raising interest rates further if that is what is needed to lower inflation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>That has been the message from several Fed officials over the last week.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>========================================================<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Currency bid prices at 3:54PM (1954 GMT)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><a href="mailto:info@bulls.co.zw"><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=300 height=296 id="_x0000_i1050" src="cid:image004.jpg@01D987B5.FD55CFB0"></span></a><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Commodities Markets<br><br><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Gold prices steady with focus on US debt-ceiling talks<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Gold prices remained stable during early Asian trade after dropping below the crucial $2,000-per-ounce level in the previous session, with investors keeping a watchful eye on developments in the U.S. debt ceiling negotiations. U.S. retail sales in April demonstrated slower-than-expected growth, while the Atlanta Fed's president, Raphael Bostic, expressed caution about inflation levels. Meanwhile, the greenback dollar index maintained its strength, and SPDR Gold Trust GLD's holdings increased slightly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Gold prices held steady in early Asian trade on Wednesday after retreating from the key $2,000-an-ounce mark in the previous session, while investors kept their eyes peeled for an outcome from the U.S. debt-limit negotiations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>* Spot gold held its ground at $1,992.19 per ounce by 0032 GMT. U.S. gold futures edged 0.1% higher to $1,995.40.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>* U.S. President Joe Biden and top congressional Republican Kevin McCarthy edged closer to a deal to avoid a looming U.S. debt default, as the threat of an economic nightmare prompted Biden to cut short an Asia trip this week.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>* U.S. retail sales increased less than expected in April, but the underlying trend was solid, suggesting that consumer spending likely remained strong early in the second quarter, despite growing risks of a recession this year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>* On the central bank front, Atlanta Fed president Raphael Bostic said on Tuesday the U.S. Federal Reserve will need to stay "super strong" in fighting inflation even if the unemployment rate starts to rise later in the year,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>* Traders are currently pricing in an 85% chance of the U.S. central bank holding rates in June, according to the CME FedWatch tool.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>* The dollar index, a measure of the greenback's value against six major currencies, held firm.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>* A stronger dollar weighs on overseas demand for greenback-priced gold, while higher rates blunt non-yielding bullion's appeal.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>* Meanwhile, Japan's economy grew an annualised 1.6% in January-March from the previous quarter, as firm private consumption and an unexpected rise in capital expenditure offset shrinking external demand, government data showed on Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>* SPDR Gold Trust GLD, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings rose 0.09% to 934.93 tonnes on Tuesday from 934.07 tonnes on Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>* Spot silver was flat at $23.74 per ounce, while platinum rose 0.4% to $1,061.43. Palladium fell 0.1% to $1,499.84.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.4pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:7.2pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width=881 colspan=5 style='width:661.0pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:#345883;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>INVESTORS DIARY 2023</span></strong><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.4pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td></tr><tr style='height:3.25pt'><td width=221 style='width:165.7pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Company</span></b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=157 style='width:117.8pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Event</span></b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=327 style='width:245.25pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Venue</span></b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=175 valign=bottom style='width:131.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Date & Time</span></b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:3.25pt'><td width=221 valign=top style='width:165.7pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=157 style='width:117.8pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=327 style='width:245.25pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=175 valign=top style='width:131.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:3.25pt'><td width=221 valign=top style='width:165.7pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=157 style='width:117.8pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Africa Day<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=327 style='width:245.25pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=175 valign=top style='width:131.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>May 25<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:3.25pt'><td width=221 valign=top style='width:165.7pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=157 style='width:117.8pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Heroes’ Day<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=327 style='width:245.25pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=175 valign=top style='width:131.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Aug 14<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:3.25pt'><td width=221 valign=top style='width:165.7pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=157 style='width:117.8pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Defence Forces Day<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=327 style='width:245.25pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=175 valign=top style='width:131.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Aug 15<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:3.25pt'><td width=221 valign=top style='width:165.7pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=157 style='width:117.8pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=327 style='width:245.25pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=175 valign=top style='width:131.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:3.25pt'><td width=221 valign=top style='width:165.7pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#D9D9D9;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=157 style='width:117.8pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#D9D9D9;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:39.6pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=327 style='width:245.25pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#D9D9D9;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:39.6pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=175 valign=bottom style='width:131.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#D9D9D9;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:39.6pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:3.25pt'><td width=378 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:10.0cm;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:39.6pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Counters trading under cautionary<o:p></o:p></span></b></p></td><td width=327 style='width:245.25pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:39.6pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=175 valign=bottom style='width:131.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='mso-margin-top-alt:0cm;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:0cm;margin-left:39.6pt;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:3.25pt'><td width=378 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:10.0cm;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>CBZH<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=327 style='width:245.25pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>GetBucks<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=175 valign=bottom style='width:131.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>EcoCash<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:3.25pt'><td width=378 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:10.0cm;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>TSL<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=327 style='width:245.25pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Econet<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=175 valign=bottom style='width:131.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Turnall<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:3.25pt'><td width=378 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:10.0cm;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>First Capital Bank<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=327 style='width:245.25pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>ZBFH<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=175 valign=bottom style='width:131.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Fidelity<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:3.25pt'><td width=378 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:10.0cm;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>Zimplow<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=327 style='width:245.25pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>FMHL<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=175 valign=bottom style='width:131.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:3.25pt'><td width=378 colspan=2 valign=top style='width:10.0cm;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=327 style='width:245.25pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=175 valign=bottom style='width:131.5pt;border-top:none;border-left:none;border-bottom:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-right:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoBodyText style='margin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:3.25pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr style='height:99.35pt'><td width=880 colspan=4 style='width:660.25pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;height:99.35pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%;background:white'><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Invest Wisely!</span></i><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%;background:white'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Bulls n Bears </span></b><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> </span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Cellphone:     </span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="tel:%2B263%2077%20344%201674" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>+263 77 344 1674</span></a></span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Alt. Email:      </span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="mailto:info@bulls.co.zw"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>bulls@bullszimbabwe.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>  </span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Website:        </span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://www.bullszimbabwe.com"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif'>www.bullszimbabwe.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>  </span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Blog:           </span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bulls.co.zw%2Fblog&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFoIy6F9IXAiYnSoPSgWDYsr8Sqtw" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>www.bullszimbabwe.com/blog</span></a></span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Twitter:         @bullsbears2010</span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>LinkedIn:       Bulls n Bears Zimbabwe</span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Facebook:     </span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FBullsBearsZimbabwe&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNGhb_A5rp4biV1dGHbgiAhUxQqBXA" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>www.facebook.com/BullsBearsZimbabwe</span></a></span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Skype:         Bulls.Bears </span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><img border=0 width=278 height=115 id="_x0000_i1042" src="cid:image001.png@01D987B5.FD55CFB0"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OLEObject Type="Embed" ProgID="PBrush" ShapeID="_x0000_i1042" DrawAspect="Content" ObjectID="_1745810409">
</o:OLEObject>
</xml><![endif]--></span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:106%'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;height:99.35pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr><td width=880 colspan=4 valign=top style='width:660.25pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#1F497D;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><i><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr><td width=880 colspan=4 valign=top style='width:660.25pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#1F497D;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><i><span style='font-size:7.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:white;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>DISCLAIMER: This report has been prepared by Bulls ‘n Bears, a division of Faith Capital (Pvt) Ltd for general information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for any securities. The information contained in this report has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty is made or guarantee given as to its accuracy or completeness. All opinions expressed and recommendations made are subject to change without notice. Securities or financial instruments mentioned herein may not be suitable for all investors. Securities of emerging and mid-size growth companies typically involve a higher degree of risk and more volatility than the securities of more established companies. Neither Faith Capital nor any other member of Bulls ‘n Bears nor any other person, accepts any liability whatsoever for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this report or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. Recipients of this report shall be solely responsible for making their own independent investigation into the business, financial condition and future prospects of any companies referred to in this report. Other  Indices quoted herein are for guideline purposes only and sourced from third parties.</span></i><i><span style='font-size:7.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></i></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr><td width=880 colspan=4 valign=top style='width:660.25pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><i><span lang=EN-GB style='font-size:7.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:white;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr><td width=880 colspan=4 valign=top style='width:660.25pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:7.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>(c) 2023 <b>Web</b>:</span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="http://www.bullszimbabwe.com"><span style='font-size:7.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'> www.bullszimbabwe.com </span></a></span><b><span style='font-size:7.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Email:</span></b><span style='font-size:7.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> </span><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><a href="mailto:info@bulls.co.zw"><span style='font-size:7.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;color:black'>bulls@bullszimbabwe.com</span></a></span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <b>Tel:</b> +263 4 2927658 <b>Cell:</b> +263 77 344 1674<o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr><td width=880 colspan=4 valign=bottom style='width:660.25pt;border:solid #BFBFBF 1.0pt;border-top:none;background:#F2F2F2;padding:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt'><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:39.6pt;line-height:105%'><span style='font-size:7.0pt;line-height:105%;font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></td><td width=6 colspan=2 style='width:4.45pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal style='line-height:105%'><span style='font-family:"Verdana",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'> <o:p></o:p></span></p></td><td style='border:none;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm' width=1><p class='MsoNormal'> </td></tr><tr height=0><td width=221 style='border:none'></td><td width=157 style='border:none'></td><td width=327 style='border:none'></td><td width=175 style='border:none'></td><td width=1 style='border:none'></td><td width=5 style='border:none'></td><td width=1 style='border:none'></td></tr></table></div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt'><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>