By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asia shares inch up, Fed caution curbs dollar
- Nikkei up 0.4 pct, but US stock futures slip
- Mixed signals on prospect of Sino-US trade thaw
- Dollar subdued as Fed talks about global risks
- Oil prices recoup some losses on chance of output cut
Oil Markets
- Oil rises on expected OPEC cut, but markets remain wary
- US oil drilling points to more output
- Brent crude oil futures up 0.8 pct at $67.29 per barrel (0045GMT)
- US WTI crude futures up 1.1 pct at $57.07 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold prices hold steady amid subdued dollar
- Spot gold up about 0.1 pct at $1,222.14 per ounce (0111GMT)
- US gold futures flat at $1,222.8 per ounce
Grains
- Soybean prices drop as US-China trade friction mounts
- Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.1 pct at $5.06-1/4 per bushel (0155GMT)
- Most active corn futures unchanged at $3.64-3/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures down 0.3 pct at $8.90 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.89 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa’s state capture inquiry resumes today; enterprise minister Gordhan to testify
- Nigeria’s leading opposition presidential aspirant Abubakar to present policy document today; incumbent Buhari did same yesterday
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Nigeria’s Buhari launches re-election bid with corruption still in focus
- South Africa’s Eskom cuts 1,000MW of power from grid on Sunday
- Nigeria in talks with South Africa’s Transnet for railway concession
- Central African war crime suspect “Rambo” handed to global court
- Egypt and Ethiopia to discuss Nile dam dispute – PM
- Remittances from Egyptians abroad rise 20.4 pct y/y in Sept – c.bank
- Egypt’s Pioneers Holding makes bid for Electro Cable Egypt
- World Bank re-engages Tanzania on scrapped education plan
- Two ex-leaders look set for second round in Madagascar presidential poll
- Soccer-Nigeria seal Nations Cup place with draw in South Africa
- Over 40 killed in attack in refugee base in Central African Republic
- Soccer-Salah scores late winner for Egypt, Morocco sink Cameroon
- Mortar bombs fired at UN peacekeeping base in eastern Congo
- Morocco’s Mutandis launches IPO to raise 400 mln dirhams in Casablanca
- Twelve Congolese soldiers killed in clashes this week in ebola-hit east
- Number of hungry children in Africa’s Sahel hits 10-yr high
- Africa Crude – Traders await January programmes
- At least 42 dead as flames gut bus in Zimbabwe
- Barrick Gold aims to boost dividend in future – incoming CFO
- Nigerian millenials fuel domestic tourism
- Algeria shelves subsidy reforms before presidential elections
- Uganda shilling little changed amid thin importer demand
- Invasive trees targeted by new South Africa anti-drought fund
- Tractor maker Deere aims to ride green revolution in Africa
- South Africa’s Eskom revises coal contract strategy, seeks supply security
- Kenya central bank upholds fines against lenders for suspect transactions
- Kenya shilling weakens on energy sector demand, stays at 10-mth low
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters