AWAB +1.08% leads ESX; birr firms 0.19% as parallel gap stays at 14.6%
ESX closes higher with Awash Bank +1.08% to ETB 3,000 and Wegagen +0.89% to ETB 1,190. Official USD/ETB eases to 158.5573 (-0.19%) while the parallel rate at 181.73 keeps the gap at 14.6%.
FX
- **USD/ETB (official):** buy 156.9874 / sell 158.5573, change -0.19%.
- **USD/ETB (parallel):** 181.73, unchanged on the day.
- **Parallel premium:** 14.6% above the official sell rate.
- The birr firmed across the board: EUR/ETB -0.25%, GBP/ETB -0.33%, JPY/ETB -0.45% (biggest mover), CNY/ETB -0.18%, AED/ETB -0.19%.
Macro
- **Headline inflation (YoY):** 11.7%, change 2.3pp (as of 2026-05-07).
- **Food / Non-Food inflation:** 13.5% / 9.1%.
- **FX Gap (Parallel vs Official):** 12% (as of 2026-05-08).
ESX
- **AWAB (Awash Bank):** 3000 ETB, +1.08% — top mover of the day.
- **WGBX (Wegagen Bank):** 1,190 ETB, +0.89%.
- **GDAB (Gadaa Bank):** 1,100 ETB, flat.
- **IBMM (Interbank Money Market):** 12.00, flat.
- No decliners on the session.
Watch
- Government takes over ERC debt after China restructuring deal — sovereign balance-sheet implications.
- PM Abiy and IMF MD Georgieva discuss Ethiopia's economic progress; reform trajectory in focus.
- Made in Ethiopia Expo seals over ETB 57 billion in manufacturing arrangements.
- Persistent diesel shortages and queues across Oromia cities despite government claims of restored supply.