By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares near 4-mth high, buoyed by trade optimism
- Asian shares, Japan’s Nikkei flat in early trade
- Hopes of progress in US-China talks buoy mood
- Palladium hits record high, gold near 10-mth peak
Oil Markets
- Brent eases from 2019 highs as markets await trade talks outcome
- Brent down 42 cents at $66.80 per barrel (0220GMT)
- WTI down 12 cents at $55.71 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold steady near 10-mth high; palladium hits record level
- Spot gold little changed at $1,326.10 per ounce (0048GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.5 pct at $1,328.9 per ounce
Grains
- Soybeans edge higher as traders hope for US-China trade deal
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.1 pct at $5.04-3/4 per bushel (0129GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 0.3 pct at $3.75-3/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 0.3 pct at $9.10-1/2 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.09 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
- Nigeria main opposition PDP party holds 1st key meeting after polls postponement; ruling APC party held its own yesterday
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- 2 policemen killed in blast in Cairo, Egypt
- Army to be “ruthless” against tampering in Nigeria’s postponed vote – Buhari
- Oil gains as investors grow optimistic over OPEC output deal
- Nigeria’s electoral commission allows resumption of campaigning after vote delay – statement
- Workers at Port Sudan container terminal strike over concession deal
- Uber agrees to pay VAT in Egypt – tax chief
- South African billionaire Motsepe says he won’t buy Eskom assets
- South African Airways in talks to roll over $650 mln of debt
- Africa Crude – Angola April programme emerges, Nigeria’s awaited amid election delay
- Nigeria’s election delay triggers stock market selloff
- ‘Africans are tired’: hairdresser hopes for change as Senegal election nears
- Athletics – Semenya accuses IAAF of breach of regulations at CAS hearing
- Nigeria’s main opposition party accuses Buhari of ‘jungle justice’ threat
- Kenya’s domestic debt refinancing risks rise as more bonds mature
- 4 Zimbabwe generals retired in Mnangagwa’s first purge of military
- Nigerian assets fall as election delay fuels uncertainty
- Nigeria’s Buhari says reasons for election delay should be investigated after vote
- Zimbabwe opposition politician fined over election results
- Kenya shilling edges up against the dollar
- Nigeria president [holds] emergency meeting with ruling party over election delay
- Nigeria eurobond yields rise after surprise election delay
- South Africa’s Bosasa to cease trading as banks close accounts
- South Africa state airline to be split into three – CEO
- Uganda shilling steady, investor interest in govt debt to help
- South Africa’s Bosasa applies for liquidation as banks close accounts
- South Africa Amplats lost 14,000 platinum ounces during last week’s power cuts
- South Africa Amplats profit nearly doubles on higher prices, improved operations
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
