By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Stocks slip as US-China trade row revives growth fears; oil elevated
- MSCI Asia-Pacific index down 0.2 pct, Nikkei up 0.15 pct
- Global trade war fears rekindled as US-China tariffs kick in
- Euro steadies after touching 3-1/2-mth peak on Draghi comments
- Looming Iran sanctions, OPEC defying calls to up output to lift oil
Oil Markets
- Oil rises to within 4-yr high as producers resist output increase to offset Iran sanctions
- US sanctions to target Iran’s oil exports from November
- OPEC, Russia so far resist calls to raise output
- High oil prices threaten emerging market growth
- Brent crude futures up 0.3 pct at $81.42 per barrel (0315GMT)
- US WTI crude futures up 0.3 pct at $72.26 a barrel
Precious metals
- Gold steady amid trade tensions, eyes on US Fed
- Spot gold barely changed at $1,198.28 (0056GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.2 pct at $1,202.60 an ounce
Grains
- Soybeans hit 5-day low as bumper harvest outstrips estimates
- Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.5 pct at $5.24-1/2 per bushel (0100GMT)
- Most active corn futures down 0.4 pct at $3.59-1/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures down 0.2 pct at $8.39-1/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $9.83 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Nigeria’s Buhari to address UN General Assembly today; other African heads of state too
- Nigeria’s central bank to decide interest rates today [fcst. 14.0%, prev. 14.0%]
- Kenya’s central bank to decide interest rates today [fcst. 9.0%, prev. 9.0%]
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- US diplomat found dead in Madagascar – State Dept
- Aid delivered after deadly mudslides in Sudan’s Darfur
- Canada’s Barrick Gold to buy Randgold for $6.5 bln
- Ivory Coast ruling coalition splits over feud
- South Sudan govt forces, rebels clash within weeks of peace deal
- Three workers reportedly kidnapped near Burkina Faso gold mine
- Senegalese chef puts super grain on New York menus to boost African farmers
- Aquarius migrant ship calls on Europe for help, sails to Marseille
- Actis, TPG picked to take over some Abraaj funds – sources
- Africa Crude – Spot trade slows, Platts eyes WAF grades for dated Brent
- As Tripoli vilence rises, France wants sanctions on militias
- Egyptian court confirms 20 death sentences over killing of policemen
- Prince William visits Namibia on conservation tour
- Liberians take to the streets to demand return of lost millions
- Burkinabe farmer wins ‘alternative Nobel’ for drought-fighting technique
- London court extends injunction against Djibouti co. in DP World dispute – Dubai govt
- South Africa’s Life Healthcare not ruling out return to India after Max disposal
- Kenya central bank says rate setting meeting will be Tuesday
- Libya’s coast guard rescues 235 migrants off western coast
- Bank of Ghana keeps policy rate unchanged at 17 pct
- Egypt cancels 5- and 10-yr treasury bond auction
- Morocco’s OCP and China’s Hubei Forbon team up to develop fertilisers
- Ugandan shilling a touch stronger on slower importer demand
- Israel’s Netanyahu to meet Egypt’s Sisi in New York – Israeli official
- Kenyan governor denies murdering pregnant lover
- Kenyan troops kill 10 al Shabaab fighters – army
- Moroccos’s finance hub issues 335 mln dirhams green bond
- Actis picked to take over Abraaj’s Africa funds – sources
- Tullow Oil abandons first Namibian well, keeps options open
- Kenyan shilling eases due to importer dollar demand
- In Nigeria, Shell’s onshore roots still run deep
- IMF says Egypt’s structural reforms key for sustainable development
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters