By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian markets cheer US-Mexico trade deal
- MSCI ex-Japan up 0.6 pct, Nikkei jumps 0.7 pct
- US, Mexico reach NAFTA deal, turn up pressure on Canada
- Analysts treating the risk rally with caution
- Some major currencies rally against the dollar
Oil Markets
- Oil rise on expectations of tightening market
- OPEC still cutting back more output than it agreed to
- IEA warns of further production falls in Venezuela
- Venezuelan crude exports have halved to below 1 mln bpd
- US sanctions to target Iran’s oil sector from November
- Brent crude futures up 0.4 pct at $76.51 per barrel (0037GMT)
- US WTI crude futures up 0.4 pct at $69.11 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold prices steady as dollar sags on US-Mexico trade deal
- Spot gold steady at $1,211.31 an ounce (0047GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.2 pct at $1,217.90 an ounce
Grains
- Corn prices ease as ample global supply drags
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.1 pct at $5.23 per bushel (0113GMT)
- Most active corn futures down 0.2 pct at $3.60-3/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures unchanged at $8.48-1/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.51 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- UK’s Theresa May in South Africa today for state visit; to visit Nigeria and Kenya subsequently
- South Africa’s EFF & Malema to hold press conference on myriad issues
- South Africa’s DA & Maimane to hold press conference; on NMB council, etc
- Africa-Singapore Business Forum starts in Singapore; 28-29 Aug
- South Africa’s state capture inquiry continues today; former ANC MP Mentor to continue testimony
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Algeria’s Bouteflika in Geneva for medical tests – presidency
- France says it kills top Islamic State official in Mali operation
- Egyptian movement calls for release of opposition figures
- Ethiopia arrests disgraced regional boss accused of rights abuses
- Liberia set to secure ancestral land rights with long-waited law
- South Africa connection charges could trigger job cuts – Telkom CEO
- Ugandan court grants bail to lawmakers charged with treason
- Egyptian security forces kill five suspected militants in shootout
- South Africa scraps nuclear power expansion plans until 2030 – energy min
- Ethiopia ousts state firm from Nile dam project after construction delays
- Congo trial over killings of UN experts resumes after long suspension
- Nigerian economy loses momentum in Q2 as oil sector contracts
- Kenyan shilling steady, remittance inflows meet importer dollar demand
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
