By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares fall under pressure from trade, emerging markets worries
- MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index down 0.2 pct
- Japan’s Nikkei down 0.3 pct
- Australian shares 0.2 pct lower
Oil Markets
- US oil prices rise as Gulf platforms shut ahead of hurricane
- Storm Gordon to make US landfall as hurricane
- Brent dips as India takes steps to continue Iran imports
- Global oil markets have tightened since 2017 – Barclays
- US WTI crude futures up 0.3 pct at $70.04 per barrel (0034GMT)
- Brent crude futures down 5 cents at $78.10 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold inches down as trade worries keep dollar firm
- Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,199.40 an ounce (0049GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,206 an ounce
Grains
- Wheat falls 1 pct as Russia rules out restricting exports
- Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.9 pct at $5.40-3/4 per bushel (0019GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 0.7 pct at $3.67-1/2 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 0.2 pct at $8.44-3/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.83 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Final day of FOCAC summit in Beijing today; African leaders to go back home “pleased” on $60 bln financing pledge by China
- South Africa Q2 GDP due [fcst. 2.0% qq saa, prev. -2.2%]
- South Africa’s state capture inquiry continues
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Congo’s top court excludes opposition leader Bemba from presidential election
- Facebook blocked in Tripoli and other cities s fighting rages – residents
- Congo’s top court excludes one ex-PM from presidential race, reinstates another
- Over $2 billion pledged to drought-stricken Lake Chad region
- ExxonMobil says blockade threatens production at Nigeria oil facilities
- Uganda charges lawmaker with treason but lets him travel abroad
- South Africa’s rand weaker on EM sell-off, stocks flat
- Africa Crude – Nigerian bid higher, brisk demand for Angolan
- Kenyan fuel tax causes anger, petrol dealers strike
- Eight killed in blast at South African munitions depot
- No safe haven for girls in crisis-hit Lake Chad region – survey
- Zimbabwe to donate 10 white rhinos to Congo
- White South African workers protest against Sasol’s black share scheme
- Nigerian military denies reports of deadly Islamist attack on troops
- UN official sees over $1 bln in fresh aid for Lake Chad region
- Lonmin’s largest shareholder backs takeover by Sibanye-Stillwater
- Ghana considering $50 bln century bond, president says
- Eni says activities in Libya running as normal, no expats in Tripoli
- Algeria’s Bouteflika eases grip of military with dismissal of generals
- Kenya independent petroleum dealers strike against new tax
- Safaricom faces $4.5 mln fine for failing to connect small firms
- South Africa’s Sun International close to exiting Nigeria
- China’s Xi offers another $60 bln to Africa, but says no to “vanity” projects
- Kenyan shilling steady on remittances, NGO dollar flows
- South Africa’s Absa PMI falls to 13-mth low in August
- South Africa’s Sun International H1 earnings fall 46 pct on one-off costs
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
