By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian stocks fall after weak US data, crude oil buoyant
- MSCI Asia-Pacific index falls 0.8 pct
- Nikkei down 1.2 pct
- US retail sales post biggest fall since Sept 2009
- Eyes on US-China trade talks, meeting with Xi
Oil Markets
- Oil hits 2019 highs on OPEC cuts, US sanctions
- Brent to average $70/bbl in 2019 – BoAML
- Brent up 0.6 pct at $64.97 per barrel (0450GMT)
- US WTI up 0.6 pct at $54.70 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold prices firm as dollar eases on grim US retail sales
- Spot gold little changed at $1,312.82 per ounce (0009GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.1 pct at $1,315 an ounce
Grains
- Soybeans rebound from 3-wk low
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up about 0.1 pct at $5.07-1/4 per bushel (0211GMT)
- Most active corn futures up about 0.1 pct at $3.75 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up about 0.1 pct at $9.04-3/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.19 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Nigeria inflation data for Jan-19 expected [fcst. 11.3% yy, prev. 11.4%]
- Bank of Uganda townhall event today
- Kenya digital ID pilot registration starts today
- Kenya roll call of striking nurses today; absentees to be dismissed
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- MTN Uganda CEO deported from country over national security
- US military denies taking part in raid on al Qaeda site in Libya
- Eritrea refugees flown to Niger from Tripoli – UN
- Egypt central bank cuts key interest rates after inflation eases
- Cameras spot Kenya’s rare black panther
- Security forces round up protesters in central Khartoum, Sudan
- Nigeria ‘Delta Avengers’ militants vow to cripple economy if Buhari re-elected
- Nigeria’s Buhari says govt is committed to free, fair and peaceful election
- Nearly 1,000 Madagascar children dead of measles since October – WHO
- Eskom split to minimise risks to South Africa, Ramaphosa says
- Women shut out of Nigeria’s poll by violence, fraud and sexism
- Africa Crude – Nigeria election in focus after militant threat
- Egypt lawmakers back changes that could keep Sisi in power till 2034
- Sudan refugee detained on Manus Island wins prestigious human rights price
- Uganda economy seen expanding at 6.3 pct in 2018/19 – IMF
- Sibanye-Stillwater may cut nearly 6,000 jobs in gold shake-up
- Tanzania hydrowpower dam to cost more than double govt estimate – study
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa says Eskom split will minimise risks to economy
- Vast Resources set to mine Zimbabwe diamond territory – minister
- Sudan pound falls to record low on black market
- Kenya shilling firm, draws support from offshore investors
- Kenya court sentences police officer to death for killing detainee
- South Africa’s NUM union warns ANC over Eskom split plan
- Uganda shilling holds steady as firms settle their taxes
- At least 23 illegal Zimbabwean gold miners feared dead after shafts flooded
- Kenya’s KenGen to raise funds from the market this year, eyes green bond
- South Africa’s December mining output down 4.8 pct y/y
- Huawei to build data centres in South Africa
- South Africa’s Eskom extends power cuts, rand slides
- South Africa’s rand breaches $14 as Eskom sours outlook
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
