By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares tripped up by new US tariff threat
- Asia shares ex-Japan dip, Tokyo markets on holiday
- Reports Trump to impose more tariffs on China at 10 pct
- Markets awaiting details, reaction from Beijing
Oil Markets
- Oil prices ease as trade row clouds demand outlook
- Brent crude oil futures dip 0.2 pct at $77.93 a barrel (0035GMT)
- US WTI crude futures down 0.3 pct at $68.79 a barrel
Precious metals
- Gold treads water on reports new China tariffs imminent
- Spot gold was flat at $1,193 an ounce (0039GMT)
- Bullion fell last week for a third straight week
- US gold futures down 0.2 pct at $1,198.20
Grains
- Wheat jumps 1 pct, hits five-day high
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.9 pct at $5.16-1/4 per bushel (0042GMT)
- Most active corn futures down 0.4 pct at $3.50-1/2 per bushel
- Most active soy futures down 0.3 pct at $8.27-3/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.49 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases this week
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa consumer inflation data for Aug-18 due on 19 Sep [fcst. 5.6% yy, prev. 5.1%]
- South Africa interest rate decision on 20 Sep [fcst. 6.5%, prev. 6.5%]
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Egyptian archaeologists find sandstone sphinx in temple at Aswan
- Sudan’s president brings back Zubeir as central bank governor
- Ethiopian, Eritrean leaders sign peace agreement in Jeddah
- Sudan inflation hits new highs in August – statistics agency
- Athletics – Kenyan Kipchoge shatters marathon world record in Berlin
- Sudan’s newly appointed finance minister rejects post – SUNA
- South Sudan’s main rebel group accuses govt of violating ceasefire
- Congo will declare cobalt and other minerals as “strategic” in coming days – mines minister
- Exiled leader of Ethiopian rebel group returns home amid reforms
- Islanders in Kenya build recycled plastic boat to highlight pollution
- Chad army kills two civilians near Libyan border – sources
- Egyptian court orders arrest of Mubarak’s sons over stock market manipulation
- Rwanda frees jailed opposition figure Ingabire
- Egypt signs oil, gas exploration deal with Shell, Petronas worth about $1 bln – statement
- Tunisia ruling party suspends PM’s membership after row with president’s son
- Nigerian finance minister Adeosun resigns over forgery claims
- Nigeria fraud agency briefly at Standard Chartered’s office in Lagos
- Nigeria’s Buhari accepts resignation of finance minister – presidency
- Morocco’s trade deficit widens 10.1 pct y/y in Jan-Aug
- Africa Crude – BP again bids for Nigerian, Angolan programmes awaited
- South African rand enjoys strong week as Moody’s turns more upbeat
- BP, Vitol go head to head in West African crude trading
- Brazil’s BTG Pactual may keep Petrobras Africa stake – source
- “Cartel” of Sierra Leone officials ran passport scam for US visas – anti-graft chief
- Film on rape victims’ recovery shows unseen side of Congo war
- Kenyan president proposes cutting fuel tax by half, to 8 pct
- Anglo American asks Angola for permission to explore for metals
- Tunisia will not impose new taxes in 2019 – prime minister
- IMF says Kenya’s external position is strong as standby deal expires
- Zimbabwe’s opposition leader postpones mock inauguration after cholera outbreak
- Arid Niger a ‘model for Africa’ as desert blooms
- In South Sudan ghost town, peace deal not yet a reality
- Bharti Airtel picks banks for London floatation of Africa business – sources
- IMF says will continue supporting Kenya’s reform efforts
- Kenyan shilling expected to ease against the dollar
- Investec to hive off asset mgt unit
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters