By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asia stocks calm as China slows, awaits Brexit news
- Asia shares ex-Japan up 0.4 pct, China blue chips advance
- S&P futures little changed with US on holiday
- China GDP slows to 6.4 pct in Q4, industrial output beats
- Market awaits Plan B on Brexit from British PM May
Oil Markets
- Oil rises to 2019 highs on strong China demand despite economic slowdown
- China’s 2018 crude runs hit record 12.12 mln bpd
- Strong demand despite GDP growth at 28-yr low
- OPEC-led supply cuts also support crude prices
- US rig count slows, output rises
- Brent crude futures up 0.4 pct at $62.94 per barrel (0404GMT)
- US WTI crude futures up 0.5 pct at $54.05 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold prices inch up on Fed rate pause hopes
- Spot gold up 0.2 pct at $1,282.71 per ounce (0103GMT)
- US gold futures steady at $1,282.50 per ounce
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa’s state capture inquiry continues
- Nigeria’s presidential candidates on the campaign trail
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Al Qaeda-linked grou claims responsibility for attack on UN peacekeepers in Mali
- Gap between rich and poor growing, fuelling global anger – Oxfam
- Congo political crisis deepens as top court rejects vote challenge
- Zimbabwe crackdown a taste of things to come, president’s spokesman warns
- African Union postpones Congo talks on contested election
- Israel and Chad revive diplomatic relations, call for closer security ties
- After Westgate debacle, quick end to latest Kenyan attack shows progress
- Sudan unrest enters second month with protests in Omdurman
- Egypt H1 of year to June budget deficit 3.6 pct of GDP – presidency
- Congo opposition candidate Fayulu declares himself president
- Congo top court declares Felix Tshisekedi winner of presidential poll
- News photographer killed in Tripoli clashes
- US says its air strike kills 52 militants who attacked Somali base
- Tunisian union calls new nationwide strike to press wage demands
- Zimbabwe public workers reject latest wage offer after protests
- Kenyan authorities investigate local role in Nairobi attack
- Burkina Faso cabinet resigns – TV statement
- Hundreds detained after Zimbabwe protests as UN denounces crackdown
- Nigeria’s NNPC paid $993.7 mln cash call arrears by September
- Tens of thousands cut off from aid in northeast Nigeria after attack
- Africa Crude – Sonangol said to award term cargoes, Nigerian firm
- South African rand weaker on less hawkish c.bank stance
- Zimbabwe court rules pastor Mawarire to stand trial for subverting govt
- Zimbabwe’s Econet says received govt order to open up internet access
- Jailed ex-Mozambique finmin drops South Africa bail plan
- Eastern Libyan force says it killed senior al Qaeda operative
- As prices soar, Zimbabweans haunted by memories of hyperinflation
- Drought, animal disease threaten South African farmers
- Tunisia to almost double gas production this year
- Saudi Arabia plans oil refinery, petchem plant in South Africa
- ICC delays release of Ivory Coast ex-leader Gbagbo despite acquittal
- SocGen and Absa join forces on wholesale banking in Africa
- Mali’s gold production up 23 pct in 2018
- China Moly to increase stake in Congo’s Tenke copper mine to 80 pct
- Algeria sets April election, no word on Bouteflika candidacy
- Congo rejects AU demand to delay final election result
- UN calls on Zimbabwe to halt crackdown, firing on protesters
- Dozens killed, wounded in wake of Congo election results – UN
- Uganda shilling unchanged as importer demand slows
- Kenya police detain 9 in connection with deadly hotel attack
- South Africa’s Aveng sells water treatment engineering business
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
