By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asia stocks firm, euro sags after dovish ECB
- Asia stocks hit 7-week high, supported after US techs surge
- Markets brace for events such as US-China trade talks
- Euro near 6-wk low after dovish comments from ECB Draghi
Oil Markets
- Oil price jump as US threatens sanctions against Venezuela
- Amid turmoil, Washington threatens Venezuela with oil sanctions
- Global oil markets well supplied as US output surges
- Barclays cuts 2019 oil price forecast
- Brent crude futures up 1.3 pct at $61.89 a barrel (0246GMT)
- US WTI crude futures up 1.5 pct at $53.90 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold firm on global growth worries, US govt shutdown
- Spot gold firm at $1,280.66 per ounce (0059GMT)
- US gold futures steady at $1,279.90 per ounce
Grains
- Soybeans edge lower as US warns trade deal with China “miles away”
- Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.2 pct at $5.20-1/4 per bushel (0143GMT)
- Most active corn futures unchanged at $3.77 per bushel
- Most active soy futures down 0.2 pct at $9.14-1/2 per bushel
- Most active rice futures down about 0.1 pct at $10.67 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Final day of Ghana central bank MPC meeting; announcement of decision on Monday
- Zimbabwe civil servants may go on industrial action today
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Protests rock Sudanese cities, one more dead
- South Sudan soldiers “unhealthy” due to food theft – Kiir
- Sudan protests death toll rises to 29 – investigatory committee
- 8 years after uprising, Egyptians say freedoms have eroded
- Zimbabwe declares popular musician Mtukudzi national hero
- Nigerian Chibok girls’ champion Ezekwesili quits presidential race
- Africa Crude – Nigerian holds strong, tenders in focus
- Madagascar names new finance minister, part of a leaner cabinet
- Cairo book fair’s gleaming new site opens far from historic market
- Nigerian court gives order to stop trial of top judge
- South African rand firms; Vodacom slumps on revenue slowdown
- New Congo president Tshisekedi calls for unity after divisive election
- Zimbabw army says “bogus” soldiers behind beatings
- Ebola survivors turn disease fighters as Congo outbreak rages on
- New Congo president resumes inaugural address after being taken ill
- DAVOS – Boss of South Africa’s Absa bank rules out Nigerian acquisition
- Algeria economic growth up to 2.3 pct in 2018 – finmin
- South Africa’s Eskom should be split, experts to tell president – sources
- Protests break out in Sudanese cities, police fire tear gas – witnesses
- Member of Sudan intelligence service killed in clash with army troops – statement
- South Africa’s RBCT says 2018 coal exports fall
- South Africa withdraw corruption charges against Zuma’s son
- Russia’s Alrosa, China’s Anjin to mine Zimbabwe diamonds – newspaper
- Uganda leader wants MTN to list shares on local exchange
- Kenya shilling gains supported by remittances, investors buying debt
- Anglo says Q4 copper output at 5-yr high
- South African consumer confidence holds steady – survey
- South Africa’s Vodacom reports quarterly slowdown in growth
- South Sudan embraces old enemy Sudan, now rocked by protests
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
