By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares decline as US jobs data clouds global outlook
- Asian ex-Japan shares almost flat
- Payrolls shockingly low though many see weakness as temporary
- US bond yields at 2-mth lows
- China lending, money supply data miss forecasts
Oil Markets
- Oil rises as OPEC’s output cuts set to continue, US drilling activity slumps
- Saudi’s Falih says too early to change OPEC+ policy in April
- US drilling activity falls for 3rd week
- Brent down 0.3 pct at $65.91 per barrel (0016GMT)
- WTI down 0.3 pct at $56.26 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold inches lower as firm dollar offsets falling equities
- Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,296.73 per ounce
- US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,298.10 an ounce
Grains
- Soybeans rebound on Chinese buying, wheat up for 2nd day
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.3 pct at $4.41 per bushel (0115GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 0.8 pct at $3.67 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 0.3 pct at $8.98-1/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures down about 0.1 pct at $10.82 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa’s state capture inquiry resumes
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa campaign walk in Park station, Johannesburg
- Misconduct trial of Nigeria’s suspended chief justice Onnoghen to resume
- South Africa’s Public Investment Corporation inquiry resumes
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Ailing president returns to Algeria as mass protests swirl
- Spokesman of leading Rwanda opposition politician found dead
- Ethiopia airlines flight to Nairobi, Kenya crashes, killing 157
- Libya’s El Sharara oilfield to reach 300,000 bpd in 2 weeks – field engineer
- Governor election counting halted in southern Nigeria oil state
- Morocco takes back citizens from northern Syria – US-backed SDF
- Sudan opposition leader’s daughter jailed over protests – party
- Egypt’s Canal Sugar inks financing deal worth $169 mln
- US to send teams to assist in Ethiopia Airlines crash
- Egypt’s Sisi appoints close military ally as transport minister
- Algeria’s army chief of staff says ties between the army and the people are strong – TV
- Egypt’s urban inflation jumps to 14.4 pct in Feb
- Egypt’s core inflation rises to 9.2 pct y/y in Feb – cbank
- Ethiopia flight “had unstable vertical speed” – flight tracking site
- Death toll from Malawi flooding rises to 28, almost 227,000 people affected
- Malaysia deports 6 Egyptians despite concerns over torture, rights abuses
- Tunisia’s health minister resigns after 11 babies die in hospital
- Libya’s Tripoli airport reopens after drone alert
- Turnout low in vote for powerful Nigeria state governors
- Sudan women protesters sentenced to 20 lashes, month in jail
- Congo’s Mai Mai militiamen attack ebola treatment centre
- Algeria orders early university holiday as students spur protests
- Rwanda aims to sell stake in cement firm Cimerwa this month
- Libyans fear shutdown as eastern commander eyes capital
- On international women’s day, Sudan’s Bashir orders release of female detainees
- Algeria detains 195 people during protests – state TV
- Some 50 migrants wounded by clash inside detention centre in Libya – UN
- Algeria state news agency says protesters demand “regime change”
- Gunmen kill ranger in Congo’s Virunga park after reopening
- Top performer Kenya’s bond market suffers worst day since November
- Algeria army magazine says the army and people belong to one country – APS
- Africa Crude – Sellers of Angolan trim some offers
- Congo’s ex-leader Kabila’s party to pick prime minister – sources
- South Africa bond demand at 6-mth high despite c.bank plan
- Malawi floods kill 23, knock out power and water supplies
- Hundreds protest against Sudan govt after Friday prayers
- Tanzania orders cleanup at Acacia gold mine, threatens closure
- Kenya shilling firm against the dollar
- Without vaccine, hundreds of children die in Madagasacar measeles outbreak
- Tanzania gives Acacia Mining to March 30 to stop water pollution at one of its mines or face shutdown
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
