By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asia stocks dealt body blow as China exports tank
- China Feb exports dive 20.7 pct y/y, imports -5.2 pct
- Nikkei falls 2 pct, Shanghai blue chips off almost 3 pct
- Dollar and yen in demand as euro nurses losses
- Bond yields drop globally on bets for more easing
Oil Markets
- Oil prices slide as economic outlook darkens, US supply surges
- Soaring output to make US the world’s top oil exporter – Rystad
- Brent down 0.8 pct at $65.78 per barrel (0528GMT)
- WTI down 0.7 pct at $56.25 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold steadies as ECB stance drag equities; US jobs data eyed
- Spot gold steady at $1,285.17 per ounce (0119GMT)
- US gold futures flat at $1,286 an ounce
Grains
- Wheat hovers near 14-mth low, set for 4 pct weekly fall
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.2 pct at $4.39-1/4 per bushel (0125GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 0.3 pct at $3.66-1/2 per bushel
- Most active soy futures barely changed at $9.02-1/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures down 0.4 pct at $10.75 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa’s state capture inquiry resumes; since sitting on Tuesday
- Sierra Leone’s Bio at Harvard for forum
- Nigeria’s gubernatorial elections tomorrow
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- US indicts Mozambique’s former finmin over $2 billion loan scheme
- US says Zimbabwe failed to make needed political, economic changes
- South Africa’s Eskom may need more bailouts despite tariff hikes
- Model turned activist Waris Dirie says world is ignoring the crime of FGM
- Africa Crude – Demand for Angolan slows
- Zimbabwe to allow foreign platinum miners control of local operations
- Botswana sees lower mineral revenues in 2019
- Battle against ebola being lost amid militarised response, MSF says
- South Africa’s rand falls after ECB, Eskom tariffs news
- Awash with plastic bottles and lacking a law, Kenya struggles to recycle
- Ex-CEO of Tanzania’s Bank M charged with fraud, money laundering
- Over 8 million Ethiopians need food aid due to violence, drought – govt
- South Africa’s Eskom dollar bonds jump after regulator grants tariff increase
- Namibia tribes to appeal US ruling on German colonial horrors
- Kenya’s shilling strengthens to its highest in four years
- Algeria’s Bouteflika, facing demands to quit, warns against infiltration of protests
- Sudan protesters defy emergency measures to rally in Khartoum
- Tunisia: We are starting to put tourism crisis behind us
- Zimbabwe central bank denies new currency rate being fixed
- African telecoms titian MTN slims down with $1 bln divestment plan
- South African regulator grants Eskom smaller tariff hikes than sought
- Most African currencies seen firm next week
- Egypt forces kill 7 militants near Cairo – govt
- Kenya shilling rises to its strongest level since July 2015
- Danish police charge 14 for sharing Morocco murder video on social media
- Algeria lawyers take to the streets to back anti-Bouteflika protests
- Ghost workers sap Tunisia’s phosphate wealth
- Uganda shilling edges up after demand for dollars tapers off
- South African bank Absa could cut hundreds of jobs, union says
- South Africa’s Q4 current account deficit narrows to 2.2 pct of GDP
- South Africa’s Sanlam hit by global markets rout, weak growth at home
- South Africa’s Standard Bank posts leaner FY earnings growth
- MTN aims to float Nigeria unit in Lagos during first half
- South Africa’s net foreign reserves rise to $43.7 bln in February
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
