By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Nikkei nudges up 0.3 pct, most markets flat
- Dollar firm as sterling takes a dive amid Brexit unease
- OPEC seeks oil pact with Russia-led group – WSJ
Oil Markets
- Oil ticks higher
- Brent up 7 cents at $62.05 a barrel (0153GMT)
- US WTI up 8 cents at $53.74
Precious metals
- Gold prices hold firm
- Spot gold steady at $1,315 per ounce (0049GMT)
- US gold futures steady at $1,319.10
Grains
- Soybeans edge lower
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up about 0.1 pct at $5.27-1/2 per bushel (0144GMT)
- Most active corn futures down 0.1 pct at $3.80-1/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures down 0.1 pct at $9.19-1/2 ber bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.74 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Liberia’s Weah to visit Nigeria today
- Guinea’s Conde to arrive Ethiopia for 3-day visit
- South Africa opposition DA party leader to deliver alternative SONA; Ramaphosa’s tomorrow
- South Africa SACCI business confidence for Jan-18 [prev. 95.2]
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- UN sees poverty hope in African uptake of child welfare payments
- Egypt babies get blue ribbons as parents say ‘no’ to FGM
- Ex-Ivory Coast president Gbagbo conditionally released to Belgium – court
- Zimbabwe president invites opposition for talks as teachers strike
- Egypt lawmakers pave way for Sisi to stay in power until 2034
- Zambia infrastructure minister arrested on corruption charge
- Africa Crude – Demand for Angolan stays firm, Europeans considering taking Nigerian
- Sudan security forces use tear gas to disperse protesters
- Tunisia inflation falls to 7.1 pct
- Ethiopia finalising mining industry reforms – minister
- Equatorial Guinea to offer Ophir’s old oil and gas block in April auction
- South Africa’s competition regulator weighing impact of StanChart’s US fine
- South Africa to unveil Eskom support package in coming days – Ramaphosa
- Egypt net foreign exchange reserves at $42.616 bln at end Jan – cenbank
- CAR signs peace deal with armed groups
- Morocco’s unemployment rate drops to 9.8 pct in 2018 – planning agency
- Equatorial Guinea to launch first mining license round in April
- Foreign holdings in Egypt treasuries at $13.1 bln – deputy minister
- Zambia receives bids for stake in state mining investment arm
- IMF to conduct final review of Egypt loan programme in June – minister
- Zimbabwe teachers strike patchy as reprisals feared
- South Africa unions oppose potential split of power firm Eskom
- Egypt targets GDP growth of 5.6 pct this fiscal year, 6 pct in FY 19/20
- Egypt to raise gas output by 400 mln cubic feet this week – minister
- Uganda shilling unchanged on slumping demand
- Centrica, Tokyo Gas sign deal to purchase Mozambique LNG
- VEON says aims to buy out Egypt’s Global Telecom for $600 mln
- Kenyan shilling unchanged, seen firming
- South Africa’s Amplats sees up to 2-fold jump in FY profit
- Egypt non-oil private sector activity lags to slowest since Dec 2017 – PMI
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
