By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asia slips after US-China trade talks end without progress, Powell eyed
- MSCI Asia-Pacific index down 0.6 pct, Nikkei up 0.3 pct
- Fed Powell’s Jackson Hole speech eyed for near-term cues
- Dollar buoyant against major peers, hits 2-wk high vs yen
- Aussie continues to struggle amid domestic political woes
Oil Markets
- Oil markets muted as US-China trade war remains unresolved
- Brent crude oil futures up 7 cents at $74.50 per barrel (0105GMT)
- US WTI crude futures up 10 cents at $67.93 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold steady, but rate hike views could dampen appeal
- Spot gold up 0.1 pct at $1,186.35 an ounce (0058GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,192.40 an ounce
Grains
- Wheat headed for worst week in 2 years on slow US exports
- CBOT wheat for December delivery down 0.7 pct at $5.38-1/4 per bushel (0131GMT)
- CBOT December corn flat at $3.61 a bushel
- Chicago soybeans up 0.2 pct at $8.55-1/4 per bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Zimbabwe constitutional court to rule on opposition presidential election petition today
- South Africa’s state capture commission hearings continue; star witness Mcebisi Jonas testimony at 0800GMT today
- Nigeria Q2 2018 GDP data expected [fcst. 1.6% yy, prev. 1.9%]
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa to address biodiversity conference in Limpopo tomorrow (25 Aug)
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Seizing land would send South Africa down the wrong path – US
- South Africa accuses Trump of stoking racial divisions after land policy tweet
- Ghana opposition seeks IMF view on $2 bln Chinese Bauxite deal
- South Africa summons US official over Trump tweet – source
- Spain returns to Morocco migrants who stormed enclave fence
- Sierra Leone wants more girls in school – but not if pregnant
- Fed up with costly, dirty fuels, Nigerians switch to cleaner alternatives
- Africa Crude – Nigerian surplus shrinks ahead of hefty October supply
- Golar eyes more Africa FLNG projects after Hilli success
- South Africa’s rand slips after Trump land reform tweet, stocks up
- Egypt arrests leading Sisi political opponents – security sources
- South Africa’s Massmart HY profit muted by weaker consumer spending
- Sibanye-Stillwater eyes bullion assets after swinging to profit
- Comoros ex-president says innocent of charges against him on passports scheme
- Somalia’s first FGM prosecution ‘hampered’ by victim’s parents
- Migrant boat sinks off Tunisia, at least five dead
- Ugandan lawmaker remanded in custody on treason charges
- South African watchdog approves Glencore’s bid for Chevron assets
- Trump tweet “based on false information” – South African minister
- Ugandan police detain two lawmakers for defying house arrest
- Kenyan shilling steady, expected to ease on importer dollar demand
- Detained Uganda lawmaker taken into civilian custody on new treason charges
- South African court postpones culpable homicide case against Zuma’s son
- South Africa’s Eskom expects to reduce staff by 15 pct in five years
- Trump tweet won’t affect South Africa, US relations – cabinet minister
- Gunmen attack checkpoint in western Libya, killing four
- South Africa’s Woolworths FY profit down 17.7 pct, misses estimates
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
