By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- China stocks stumble despite central bank liquidity support
- China blue-chips off 3.6 pct
- MSCI Asia ex-Japan -0.8 pct
- Yuan down on weakest fixing since May 2017
Oil Markets
- Oil drops 1 pct at US considers granting some waivers on Iran crude sanctions
- Analysts warn of limited capacity
- Hedge funds cut bullish crude futures positions
- US oil drilling stalls
- Brent crude futures down 1.1 pct at $83.25 per barrel (0115GMT)
- US WTI crude futures down 0.8 pct at $73.77 a barrel
Precious metals
- Gold dips as dollar firms after China eases policy
- Spot gold down 0.2 pct at $1,200.31 an ounce (0103GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,204.40 an ounce
Grains
- Soybean prices hit 6-wk high as rains expected to slow harvesting
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.7 pct at $5.24-1/2 per bushel (0056GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 0.2 pct at $3.69 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 0.6 pct at $8.74-1/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.82 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa’s finmin Nene to give speech at banking summit today; key focus may instead be how much longer he would remain on the job after lying scandal
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Nigerian ex-minister and Chibok girls champion to run for president
- Libya PM reshuffles ministers to broaden support after Tripoli clashes
- Polls in Cameroon close after vote marked by seperatist unrest
- Sudan sets daily exchange rate at 47.5 pounds per dollar in sharp devaluation
- Nigeria central bank may reduce $8.1 bln MTN repatriation demand
- Sonatrach to launch offshore drilling with Total, ENI in Algeria next year
- Prisoner sieze control of part of South Sudan detention centre
- Nigeria’s central bank will continue to intervene in FX markets – governor
- Nigeria’s opposition PDP selects Abubakar for 2019 presidential election
- Three armed seperatists shot dead during Cameroon vote – security source
- Zambia says open to dialogue with miners over tax increases
- Prisoners riot at detention centre in South Sudan
- Congo Republic approves 2019 budget with GDP growth forecast of 3.7 pct
- Nigeria promotes growth plan to investors on New York roadshow
- Five new ebola cases confirmed in eastern Congo – health ministry
- Egytp bans former presidential candidate from travel abroad – agency
- Mozambique launches initiative to disarm, reintegrate opposition fighters
- Worried Zimbabweans fill up cars and stockpile goods, bank sees improvement soon
- UK’s CNM plans to relaucnch Zambia nickel mine next year
- IMF expects 4 pct growth in Malawi in 2019, economy performing well
- US first lady Melania Trump wraps up solo African tour in Egypt
- Fire hits palm plantation in Egypt’s New Valley, 37 hurt – report
- Zimbabwe puts troubled national airline under administration
- Rwanda court orders critic of president released on bail
- Ghana’s 91-day bill edges up to 13.4 pct
- Ethiopia’s ruling coalition re-elects PM Abiy as chairman
- Nigeria’s central bank files counter claim in escalating MTN dispute
- Soccer-FIFA suspends Sierra Leone FA for govt interference
- Morocco’s CFG Bank expects to return to profit in 2021
- Nigeria to prosecute those to blame for Sky Bank’s failure – finmin
- Melania Trump goes on safari in Kenya and visits an orphanage
- New UN-led fund may make loans as easy as ABC for Africa’s farmers
- Congolese doctor dedicates Nobel Peace Prize to victims of sexual violence
- Tears flow as escaped Chibok captive brings news – good and bad
- Mali expects 2018 industrial gold output to rise 21 pct
- Egypt signs deal for sale of stake in oil company ENPPI
- Kenya detains five Chinese nationals found with security equipment
- Nigeria seeks 15 pct interest from MTN on $8.1 bln moved abroad – court papers
- Zimbabwe rebases data, boosting GDP numbers by 40 pct
- South African finance minister says he deeply regrets Gupta meetings
- Kenya shilling unchanged, draws support from remittances and weak demand
- Kenya on course to develop nuclear energy , official says
- Congolese Mukwege, Iraq’s Murad win 2018 Nobel Peace Prize
- Foreign investment in Egypt falls, austerity plan hurts demand
- South Africa’s net foreign reserves fall to $42.23 bln in Sept.
- South Africa train collision injures 320 people
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
