By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asia shares fall as weakening global outlook offsets trade progress
- MSCI Asia ex-Japan down 0.1 pct
- China home price growth eases in January
- Aussie dollar rebounds as officials seek to reassure investors
Oil Markets
- Oil prices fall as US crude output hits record 12 mln bpd
- Brent down 0.3 pct at $66.87 per barrel (0326GMT)
- WTI down 0.2 pct at $56.84 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold prices rise on trade talk optimism; Fed stance limits gains
- Spot gold up 0.2 pct at $1,325.52 per ounce (0548GMT)
- US gold futures unchanged at $1,328.1 per ounce
Grains
- Wheat prices edge up, but set to finish week down more than 2 pct
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.3 pct at $4.87-3/4 per bushel (0156GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 0.1 pct at $3.75-3/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures down about 0.1 pct at $9.10-1/2 per bushel
- Most active rice futures up about 0.1 pct at $10.40 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa’s state capture inquiry continues; Eskom chair Mabuza to testify
- Nigeria on public holiday ahead of key elections tomorrow
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Sime Darby Plantation considers exiting West Africa palm oil operations – sources
- Eastern Libya military forces claim control of El Feel oilfield
- Libya El Feel oilfield output still around 75,000 bpd, reports of fighting not correct – engineer
- Africa Crude – Sonangol sells all April cargoes in firm market
- Algeria’s president to visit Switzerland for medical checks – presidency statement
- After Eskom bailout, focus shifts to South Africa’s credit rating
- South African insurer Discovery could consider future acquisitions
- Nigeria’s Buhari, Atiku make final pitches for support before delayed vote
- Zimbabwe’s currency reality check puts plaster on deep wound
- South Africa’s Truworths first-half earnings drop on lower spending
- Nigeria’s Zenith Bank sees loan growth in 2019 as economy recovers
- Higher South African spending limit will not weaken policy credibility – Moody’s
- Nigeria’s electoral commission says 86.6 pct of voting cards collected
- Eskom support will weigh on South Africa’s finances – S&P Global
- Sudan security forces arrest prominent party leaders – opposition member
- AMCU plans to extend Sibanye gold strike to other South Africa miners
- Congo police executed 27 in anti-gang operation – Human Rights Watch
- Global sovereign debt to jump to $50 trillion – S&P Global
- South Africa’s Woolworths axes dividend from Australian business to ease debt
- South Africa’s Eskom bailout could reach 150 bln rand
- South Africa’s state firms, wages top risks to public finances – finmin
- Nigeria opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar would continue Niger Delat amnesty programme – policy advisor
- South Africa’s AMCU plans sympathy strike at Sibanye platinum shafts
- Uganda shilling holds steady due to sluggish demand for dollars
- Algeria military plane crash kills two – ministry
- South Africa’s AMCU union plans sympathy strikes at Amplats, Lonmin
- MTN Uganda denies it understates revenues, says it is fully tax-compliant
- South Africa’s MTN says chief of Iranian associate to retire
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
