By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares hit 3-1/2-wk high on US-China trade optimism, oil climbs
- Trump tweets that China trade talks are going well
- Hopes of a US-China trade deal underpin risk assets
- Markets show little reaction to Trump’s address on border wall
- Oil prices also extend rally on trade deal hopes
Oil Markets
- Oil prices surge on hopes of successful US-China trade talks
- Brent up 0.7 pct at $59.14 per barrel (0131GMT)
- US WTI crude futures up 1 pct at $50.29 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold steady as trade hopes offset Fed stance; palladium at record high
- Palladium hits record high
- Markets await FOMC minutes later in session
- Gold may be seeing a top, technically – analyst
- Spot gold down 0.2 pct at $1,282.97 per ounce (0404GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,284.5 per ounce
Grains
- Wheat firms 1 pct to linger near 20-day high
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 1 pct at $5.23 per bushel (0143GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 0.5 pct at $3.81-3/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 0.4 pct at $9.22-1/2 per bushel
- Most active rice futures down 0.5 pct at $10.69 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Top officials of South Africa’s ruling ANC spread across country celebrating party’s 107th birthday
- South Africa ABSA manufacturing PMI data for December due [prev. 49.5]
- South Africa SACCI business confidence data for December expected [prev. 96.1]
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Sudan’s Bashir scoffs at opposition as more demonstrations take place
- Soccer – Salah voted African footballer of the year
- Sudan security forces disperse hundreds in al-Qadarif
- Madagascar court declares Rajoelina president, rejects fraud complaint
- Congo opposition campaign says talking with Kabila camp on transition
- Uganda aims to pick bidder to build, operate highway by end-2019
- Zambia president heads for “urgent” Congo election meeting in South Africa
- Zimbabwe teachers divided on strike for US dollar pay
- Africa Crude – Nigerian crude diffs supported by tenders
- Kenya says no schoolgirls being screened for FGM after backlash
- Uganda govt says not concerned by heavy debt load, to borrow cautiously
- Congo election observer saw “major” irregularities in vote count
- Somali region once riddled with pirates sees powerful power transfer
- Egypt limits Gaza passage after Palestinian Authority quits border crossing
- Ivory Coast SIR oil refinery secures 577 mln euro loan
- Kenya’s NSE halts equities trading due to technical hitch
- Import costs choke output at Libya’s only truck factory
- Uganda shilling loses ground as demand from manufacturers weighs
- Tanzania names latest mining minister in ongoing industry clash
- Three killed, hundreds injured in South Africa train collision
- Soccer – Egypt to host 2019 African Nations Cup
- Former Mozambican finmin challenges detention in South Africa
- Congo miner SMB leaves ITSCI responsible-sourcing scheme over cost
- Private equity firms AfricInvest, Catalyst invest in Kenya’s Prime Bank
- US military says it kills 6 militants in an air strike in Somalia
- South Africa’s net reserves rise to $43.09 bln in December
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
