By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares ride relief rally, Sino-US trade a hurdle
- Nikkei off to a strong start after Wall St rally
- Fed stresses patience on policy, market leans toward rate cut
- Safe-haven yen eases back, dollar otherwise lower
- Investors eye Sino-US trade talks in Beijing
Oil Markets
- Oil rises on trade talks and supply cuts, but economic slowdown looms
- Record US output weighs on crude
- Brent up 1.2 pct at $57.77 per barrel (0227GMT)
- US WTI crude futures up 1.4 pct at $48.65
Precious metals
- Gold prices inch down as Fed stance revises risk appetite
- Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,284.05 per ounce (0053GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,285.10 per ounce
Grains
- Soybeans hit 3-wk high as US, China meet for trade talks
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.1 pct at $5.17-1/2 per bushel (0133GMT)
- Most active corn futures down 0.1 pct at $3.82-3/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 0.2 pct at $9.23-3/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.48 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Guinea to take a second parliamentary vote today on whether to legalise polygamy; after making it an option in first vote
- Nigerian labour unions to meet with authorities again today on minimum wage dispute ahead of potential strike action on Tuesday
- Nigeria’s Buhari to inaugurate campaign organisation today
- South Africa’s SACCI business confidence data for December expected [prev. 96.1]
- Top officials of South Africa’s ruling ANC to visit various regions today for grassroot mobilisation activities
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Egypt’s Sisi acknowledges close coordination with Israel in Sinai
- Nigerian military raids paper after Boko Haram article
- Libya’s oil revenue rose to $24.4 bln in 2018 – NOC
- Palestinian Authority pulls employees from Egypt-Gaza crossing
- Egypt’s Sisi opens mega-mosque and Middle East’s largest cathedral in new capital
- Sudan security forces arrest Khartoum University lecturers – professors
- Nigerian militant group claims ‘warning’ strike on Conoil facility
- Egypt sells $854 mln in 1-yr dollar t-bills – cbank
- Egypt explosives expert killed defusing bomb near church in Cairo – state TV
- Congo election results delayed past Sunday deadline due to slow arrival of vote tallies
- UN divided over how to react to Congo’s election problems
- Zambia Vedanta unit halts operations at underground mine on tax concerns
- Nigeria’s Buhari says electoral commissioner is related by marriage
- Congo’s electoral commission slams Catholic Church over vote comment
- Fearing Congo violence, US deploys small military force to Gabon
- Tests show suspected Swedish ebola patient not infected
- Tunisia’s 2018 inflation rises to 7.5 pct
- Libya authorities seeking 37 suspects over attacks on oil, military facilities
- School girls in Kenya undergo compulsory tests for pregnancy, FGM
- Dozens protest near Khartoum, organisers say leader detained
- Angola central bank withdraws licenses of 2 small lenders
- UN chief regrets Somalia envoy expulsion, will send replacement
- Dozens killed in ethnic violence in Burkina Faso
- Ex-Credit Suisse bankers arrested on US charges over Mozambique loans
- Africa Crude – Angolan cargoes trade, some offers lowered
- Congo’s internet shutdown after election could cause violent backlash – UN
- Zimbabwe strike not called off – doctor’s representative
- Zimbabwe lays off more than 3,000 civil servants
- Congo slashes cobalt output estimate for Jan-Sept 2018
- Zambia says audit shows mining firms in arrears to govt
- Sudan unrest disrupts Bashir’s push for vital financial support
- Decline in South Africa’s private sector eases, fanning recovery hopes – PMI
- Kenyan shilling steady, draws support from remittances
- Uganda growth seen climbing to 7 pct in 3-5 years – cbank
- Solar-pumped water slakes rural Kenya’s thirst for development
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters