By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asia shares stumble, sterling at mercy of yet another vote
- Nikkei slips over 1 pct, China stocks in the red
- Sterling on knife-edge ahead of another Brexit vote
- Dow weighed down by 2nd day of losses for Boeing
Oil Markets
- Oil firms as Saudis trim exports, US output forecast reduced
- Brent up 0.4 pct at $66.93 a barrel (0039GMT)
- WTI up 0.5 pct at $57.17 a barrel
Precious metals
- Gold hits near 2-wk high on Brexit woes, weaker dollar
- Spot gold up 0.2 pct at $1,303.74 an ounce (0130GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.4 pct at $1,303.80 an ounce
Grains
- Wheat slips on ample global stocks, bleak demand
- Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.6 pct at $4.50-1/2 per bushel (0136GMT)
- Most active corn futures up about 0.1 pct at $3.66 per bushel
- Most active soy futures down about 0.1 pct at $8.96-1/2 per bushel
- Most active rice futures up 0.1 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 continues
- South Africa’s PIC inquiry continues
- Nigeria’s senate to start debate on 2019 budget proposal
- South Africa’s political parties to announce candidate lists; IEC deadline for submission today
- 2nd day of France’s Macron visit to Ethiopia
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa’s Libstar full-year earnings fall on impairment hit
- Hungry for change, Algerians press old guard to step aside
- Ethiopia, France sign military, navy deal, turn ‘new page’ in ties
- US says it backs Algeria efforts to chart new path after Bouteflika
- Veteran diplomat set to guide Algeria’s transition after protests
- South Sudan dismisses gang rape accusations, asks for peace funding
- Nigeria’s ruling party takes close lead in governor elections, but balance could tip
- Africa Crude – Nembe Creek pipeline resumes, Angolan trade slows
- Uganda, Saipem agree next steps for refinery
- Egyptians put the breaks on new car purchases in push for lower prices
- Nigeria’s Access Bank gets $162.5 mln loan to support local business
- South Africa’s FirstRand CEO says likely to shrink branches
- More than 500 Banunu killed in attacks by rival ethnic group in DR Congo – UN investigation
- African Bank appoints ex-Liberty Holdings CEO as chairman
- Tanzania sees overall spending up slightly in 2019-20 – finmin
- Kenya’s president signs petroleum law outlining revenue sharing
- Macron warns of Chinese risk to African sovereignty
- 1 man killed, Lebanese construction worker kidnapped in Nigerian city
- South Africa’s Group Five in business rescue after lenders pull plug
- South Africa considers financial options to help Zimbabwe revive economy
- Kenya’s Safaricom secures deal to use m-pesa payments on AliEXpress.com
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa says ready to help Zimbabwe revive economy
- Uganda shilling weakens on demand from energy firms
- Bouteflika’s decision is biggest turning point since independence – deputy PM
- Kenya shilling weakens against the dollar
- UN says killings in Congo ethnic clashes may be crimes against humanity
- Heatwave threatens to slash harvests in drought-hit Zimbabwe
- Ethiopia crash bodies will take days to release
- Diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi to chair transitional conference on Algeria – source
- Macron calls for ‘reasonable’ transition in Algeria
- South Africa’s FirstRand reports higher HY earnings
- Results of Ethiopia crash investigation needed before conclusions drawn – IATA head
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters