By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian stocks bruised by Trump’s trade war threats
- MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index down 0.2 pct
- Nikkei down 0.8 pct
Oil Markets
- Oil prices dip on concerns Sino-US trade conflict could escalate
- Brent crude oil futures down 0.3 pct at $77.55 per barrel (0106GMT)
- US WTI crude futures down 6 cents at $70.19 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold headed for longest monthly losing streak since 2013
- Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,198.66 an ounce (0029GMT)
- US gold futures mostly steady at $1,204 an ounce
Grains
- Soybeans edge lower, set to finish the month down 10 pct
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.3 pct at $5.36-1/2 per bushel (0014GMT)
- Most active corn futures unchanged at $3.56-1/2 per bushel
- Most active soy futures down 0.2 pct at $8.30 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.71 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Germany’s Merkel expected in Nigeria today from Ghana
- Nigeria’s Buhari to travel to China today for FOCAC summit
- Kenya consumer inflation data for August expected [fcst. 3.9% yy, prev. 4.4%]
- Uganda consumer inflation data for August expected [fcst. 3.4% yy, prev. 3.1%]
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Despite debt woes, Africa still sees China as best bet for financing
- African wars killed 5 million sick children in 20 years – study
- New drought insurance plan for Senegal will free up aid, save lives, charities say
- Uganda police arrest lawmakers trying to leave country after torture allegations
- Satterfield emerges as leading candidate for US envoy to Egypt
- Africa Crude – Nigerian crudes get snapped up in tenders; Angola slows
- Congo’s H1 copper production rises 8 pct; cobalt output up 38 pct
- Egypt investigates hotel after death of British couple – minister
- Libya evacuates migrants trapped by fighting , with UN help
- Remittances from Egyptians abroad rise 21.1 pct in FY 2017-18 – c.bank
- Nigeria stuns MTN with $8.1 bln demand, shares plunge
- Aker Energy to submit plan for Ghana offshore field in 2019
- Military helicopter crash kills 18 in Ethiopia – news agency
- Nigeria’s senate leader says economy broken, plans to challenge president in vote
- TFG to open retail brand in Australia, test appetite outside Africa
- MTN Ghana raises $238.5 mln in IPO, misses target
- Nigerian bankers to meet after MTN ordered to transfer $8.1 bln – Access Bank CEO
- Kenya’s parliament approves retaining interest rate cap, against IMF wishes
- S&P says unlikely to lower South Africa ratings like Turkey
- S&P says South Africa’s ratings unlikely to be downgraded like Turkey
- Algeria’s annual inflation up to 4.8 pct in July
- Kenyan shilling holds steady against the dollar
- Egypt’s M2 money supply up 17.84 pct y/y in July – c.bank
- Former Congolese military leader: I am not “the Terminator”
- Ugandan shilling firms slightly on month-end thinning of demand
- Libya evacuates with UN help migrants trapped by Tripoli clashes
- Tunisia, IMF locked in difficult talks over next loan tranche
- AngloGold’s Guinea mine resumes operations after 1-day strike
- Zambia’s external debt jumps, hurting IMF deal hopes
- PM May says UK committed to free trade with Kenya after Brexit
- Tunisia central bank holds key interest rate unchanged at 6.75 pct
- At least 10 killed in South Africa bus crash
- MTN plunges as Nigeria orders $8.1 bln be refunded
- South Africa’s Solidarity union agrees wage deal with Eskom
- South Africa’s credit demand growth slows to 5.41 pct in July
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
