By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Shares rally, dollar eases as Trump report fans US-China trade deal hopes
- MSCI Asia ex-Japan up 2.5 pct, US stock futures up 0.5 pct
- Trump said to have asked to prepare trade deal draft
- China shares rally on easing trade tensions, govt support
- Dollar under pressure as risk-sensitive currencies gain
- European shares seen rising 1.0 pct
Oil Markets
- Oil seesaws on reported Iran sanction waivers, hopes US-China trade spat can be resolved
- Prices also weighed down by surge in supply
- US sanctions against Iran oil exports start next week
- But serveral countries reported to be receiving waivers
- Brent crude futures down 1 cent at $72.88 a barrel (0737GMT)
- US WTI crude futures down 33 cents at $63.36 a barrel
Precious metals
- Gold steady; investors eye US non-farm payroll data
- Holdings in SPDR Gold Trust rise
- Platinum hits fresh high since June 27
- Spot gold flat at $1,232.81 an ounce (0702GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.3 pct at $1,235.1 per ounce
Grains
- Soybeans set for biggest weekly gain in 16 mths on US-China trade hopes
- Soybeans up for 4th session, poised for strong weekly gain
- Signs of easing US-China trade tensions underpin prices
- Chinay soymeal futures down 5 pct after Trump-Xi phone call
- Wheat eyes weekly rise after 3 weeks of losses
- Most active CBOT soybean futures up 0.7 pct at $8.89 a bushel (0543GMT), up more than 5 pct for the week
- Wheat up 0.2 pct for the week, corn down 0.4 pct
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Australia’s Invictus says it has not found oil and gas deposits in Zimbabwe
- Kenya’s Safaricom first-half revenue jumps nearly 8 pct
- South African rand, bonds firmer as risk appetite improves
- Rain or shine, grain banks help Kenyan farmers beat trade cartels
- Human rights in Morocco deteriorate in 2017-18 – rights group
- African crude – Spot thin as traders wait for Pertamina results
- Ivorian cocoa exporters struggle to get finance after SAF-Cacao failure
- Egyptian authorities detain daughter of senior Muslim Brotherhood leader
- Morocco imposes online entry permit rule for African travellers
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa fires suspended tax boss Moyane
- Egypt regulator suspends Beltone Financial IPO unit for 6 months
- Public hearings show support for land expropriation – South Africa parliament
- Madagascar’s next leader: accountant, DJ or milkman?
- Sudan should prosecute Darfur crimes, pursue ICC arrest warrants – UN
- South Africa’s finmin Mboweni says state airline should be closed down
- Show must go on for Libya’s threatened actresses
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa says arms firm Denel ripe for JV partnerships
- Mnangagwa says Australian firm finds oil, gas in Zimbabwe
- White farmer’s role highlights South Africa’s land reform challenge
- Egypt signs $2.3 bln power plant deal with Saudi ACWA Power – minister
- Angola expects economy to grow 2.8 pct in 2019 – minister
- Nigeria shores up fuel needs ahead of 2019 election with BP deal
- Angola sees oil production of 1.57 mbd in 2019 – govt budget
- Wealthy Madagascar candidates woo sceptical voters trapped by poverty
- Kenyan central bank sells dollars after shilling weakens
- Ugandan shilling to gain, Nigeria’s naira to ease, Ghana’s cedi to slip; in week ahead
- Tanzania arrests opposition leader over deaths claim – party
- Zimbabwe’s Mangudya to get second term as central bank governor – report
- Uganda shilling stronger on inflows from charities
- Nigeria’s NNPC signs crude-for-product swap deal with BP
- South African central bank made important changes to forecasting model
- Suspected Boko Haram militants kill 15 in northeast Nigeria – residents
- South Africa’s Absa PMI fell for a third consecutive month in October
- Ethiopia get its first female supreme court president
- South Africa’s Gold Fields union to strike over job cuts
- Tunisia central bank holds key interest rate at 6.75 pct
- South Africa’s Sibanye-Stillwater Q3 EBITDA dives 40 pct
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
