By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global markets
- Asia stocks mixed, Nikkei up as yen eases
- North Korea tests suspected ICBM, initial reaction muted
- Bitcoin tops $10k barrier on more exchanges
- Republican senators progress with U.S. tax cut plans
- S. banking stocks boosted by presumptive Fed chair
Oil markets
- Extended OPEC-led production cuts are priced in – traders
- But doubts over Russia’s willingness to extend cuts emerge
- API reports surprise climb in U.S. crude inventories
- But healthy world economy should support oil demand
Precious metals
- Spot gold was little changed at $1,294.12 an ounce (0113GMT)
- S. gold futures were down 0.1 percent at $1,293.60
- Palladium dipped 0.2 percent at $1,024.99 an ounce, after hitting its highest since February 2001 at $1,028.70 in the previous session
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- 2-day AU-EU summit starts today in Abidjan [Europe’s African immigrant problem may overshadow more important developmental issues] #AUEUSummit2017
- Nigeria 117 bln naira treasury bill auction by central bank today [N26B (3M), N11B (6M), N80B (1Y)] #Nigeria #Debt
- South Africa M3 money supply (Oct-17) [act. 5.0% yy, fcst. 5.9% yy, prev. 7.1% rev] #SouthAfrica #M3
- South Africa PSCE (Oct-17) [act. 5.4% yy, fcst. 6.3% yy, prev. 5.5% rev] #SouthAfrica #PSCE
Key African events or data releases yesterday
[Posted & commented on headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Kenya president sworn in, rival Odinga promises own inauguration
- Difficult migration debate looms as African and EU leaders meet
- Nigeria central bank injects $210M into currency market
- Moodys’ places on review for downgrade 15 South African sub-sovereigns
- Rand investors increase bets South Africa’s Ramaphosa will replace Zuma
- Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa opens amnesty window for return of stolen funds
- Macron’s promise of new France-Africa ties raises heckles
- Algeria expects Ourhoud oilfield to produce 1.3 billion barrels until 2040
- Zimbabwe’s Mugabe is gone, but political kow-towing still abounds
- CFA franc is a matter for Africans, France open to changes, Macron says
- In long-awaited move, Egypt central bank scraps FX restrictions for importers
- Egypt security forces kill 11 suspected militants in raid
- At least 17 killed in gold mine dispute on Mali-Guinea border
- Amnesty wants probe into Shell’s alleged role in 1990s Nigeria violence
- Macron touts European initiative to evacuate Africans trapped in Libya
- Zambia says ‘must have’ $1.3 bln IMF loan in place in 2018
- Kenya president lifts travel restrictions, saying all Africans can get visa on arrival
- Grenade thrown at French troops in Burkina Faso before Macron’s arrival
- South Africa’s Eskom links Medupi new coal-fired unit to national grid
- South Africa’s Q4 business confidence slips slightly
- Yields lower in weekly South African government bond auction
- Burundi opposition platform boycotts new round of peace talks in Tanzania
N.B
Full story of above headlines are available on Reuters