By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Pound soars, Asian shares rally after Brexit deal changes
- MSCI Asia ex-Japan +1 pct; Nikkei up 1.9 pct
- Pound gains 0.5 pct on ‘last chance’ Brexit deal
- China bluechips add 1.3 pct
Oil Markets
- Oil prices rise on OPEC’s supply cuts and healthy demand
- Venezuela’s crisis also supports crude prices
- Brent up 0.3 pct at $66.76 per barrel (0012GMT)
- WTI up 0.4 pct at $56.99 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold inches down as updated Brexit deal improves risk appetite
- Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,293.17 per ounce (0104GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.1 pct at $1,292.90 an ounce
Grains
- Wheat edges away from 14-mth low
- But tepid global demand caps wheat gains
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.2 pct at $4.29-1/4 per bushel (0100GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 0.1 pct at $3.62-1/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures little changed at $8.90-1/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.72 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- France’s Macron 2-day visit to Ethiopia
- South Africa’s state capture inquiry continues
- South Africa’s PIC inquiry continues
- Nigeria’s parliament resumes
- Misconduct trial of suspended Nigeria chief justice Onnoghen continues
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa in Harare for 3rd SA-Zimbabwe binational commission
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Results of Ethiopia crash investigation needed before conclusions drawn – IATA head
- Panama’s Copa Airlines says awaiting results of Ethiopia crash probe
- CERAWEEK – Barkindo says OPEC has helped US shale, as the two plan to meet again
- US says 737 MAX safe to fly after Ethiopia crash; Boeing shares dip
- As China prevails, France’s Macron shuffles his cards in Djibouti
- Algeria’s Bouteflika abandons re-election bid after weeks of protest
- France says welcomes Bouteflika decision not to seek fifth term in Algeria
- Canada will take action once cause of Ethiopia plane crash known – minister
- New constitution for Algeria will be submitted to a referendum
- Adviser to Niger official arrested in Guinea Bissau cocaine bust
- Noureddine Bedoui is Algeria’s new prime minister – Ennahar tv
- Africa Crude – Angolan clears slowly
- Prize-winning author, 21 UN workers among dead in Ethiopia Airlines crash
- Royal Air Maroc grounds Boeing 737 MAX 8 after Ethiopian crash
- Violence sparks first major humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso
- After Ethiopia crash horror, some nations ground Boing 737 MAX 8s
- Ethiopia plane smoked and shuddered before deadly plunge
- South Africa’s rand firms on improved risk appetite, Naspers lift stocks
- South Africa’s Comair takes Boeing 737 MAX off schedules
- Nigeria elections have “systemic failings”, need serious reform – EU
- Zambia external debt rose to over $10 bln at end 2018 – finmin
- IEA sees US leading global oil supply growth to 2024
- Sudan’s parliament cuts state of emergency to 6 months
- Algeria’s biggest labour union says change is necessary but must be peaceful
- Ex-Congo VP seeks damages from war crimes court
- Qatar Petroleum takes stake in Mozambique exploration block
- Algeria clerics urge religious affairs minister to stop pressuring them to make pro-govt sermons – clerics leader
- Zimbabwe cenbank head hints at more weakening of new currency
- Algeria justice minister urges judges to remain neutral
- Dozens of militants killed in shootouts in Egypt’s Sinai – military
- Cockpit voice recorder, digital flight data recorder from Ethiopia Airlines flight recovered
- Tobacco auctions could move exchange rate for Zimbabwe’s transitional currency – cenbank gov
- Willis is broker on Ethiopia Airlines – spokewoman
- Algeria judges refuse to oversee vote if Bouteflika participates – statement
- Zimbabwe annual inflation to fall by as much as 15 pct by end of year – cenbank gov
- Uganda shilling unchanged, biased on stronger side
- South Africa’s Old Mutual FY profit drops; co plans $138 mln buyback
- Kenya shilling strengthens against the dollar
- Libyans fear showdown as eastern commander eyes capital
- Barclays Bank Kenya says 2018 full year pre-tax profit rises to 10.65 bln shillings
- South Africa’s Absa bank full-year earnings dip
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
