By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Bond yields keep falling, stocks try to steady
- US 10-yr yields hit 15-mth lows, German less than zero
- Equities mixed on worries curve inversion augurs recession
- Sterling slapped as Brexit votes go nowhere
Oil Markets
- Oil extends losses into 2nd session as US stocks rise
- Brent down 0.3 pct at $67.63 a barrel (0045GMT)
- WTI down 0.4 pct at $59.18 per barrel
Precious metals
- Palladium extends losses, hits 5-wk low as investors book profits
- Spot gold little changed at $1,311.29 per ounce (0541GMT)
- US gold futures steady at $1,310.10 an ounce
Grains
- Soybeans linger near 3-mth low; all eyes on trade talks
- Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.5 pct at $4.67 per bushel (0344GMT)
- Most active corn futures down 0.1 pct at $3.73-1/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures unchanged at $8.87-3/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures down 0.6 pct at $11.08 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Togo’s Gnassingbe in South Africa; last day of 3-day working visit
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa launches Business Leadership SA & SA SME CEO fund circle
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
- South Africa PIC inquiry continues
- South Africa to decide interest rates [fcst. 6.75%, prev. 6.75%]
- South Africa producer inflation data for Feb 2019
- Nigeria’s Adamawa governorship rerun election to be concluded today
- International Coffee Organisation meeting in Nairobi continues; to 29 Mar
- Uganda’s Museveni to conclude 2-day visit to Mombasa, Kenya
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa to launch special court for gender-based violence
- Kenya central bank governor Njoroge post-MPC press conference
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Egypt 2019/20 budget assumes rate of 18 Egyptian pounds to dollar
- South Africa’s rand slides tracking Turkish lira
- South Africa’s Capitec Bank FY profit jumps on strong client growth
- Public mistrust thwarts Congo’s ebola responses as cases climb
- Morocco govt set to sack striking teachers
- Libya’s NOC February revenues down 21 pct on January
- Sudan suspends daily exchange rate setting mechanism – report
- Paris wheat at 2-wk low as Egypt setback cools export hopes
- Half urban population of sub-Saharan Africa still living in slums – study
- Algeria army, police bust militant cell planning attacks – Ennahar TV
- Nigeria aims to borrow at home and abroad to fund 2019 budget – finmin
- Rescued migrants hijack merchant ship off Libya
- Bouteflika’s key allies back army plan to oust him
- South Africa names former Alexander Forbes CEO as head of tax collection agency
- Urban middle class may offer lifeline to rural Africa
- South Africa’s ANC elders criticise “tainted” officials on election list
- South Sudan lawmaker, 2 other killed in ambush
- Amid ruined lives, Mozambique’s cyclone survivors face cholera, diarrhoea
- South Africa mining firms seek charter changes over past black ownership deals
- Algeria’s ruling party backs army’s call for end to Bouteflika’s rule
- Emerging market debt trading fell 7 pct in Q4, dipped in 2018 – EMTA
- UN to investigate massacre of 157 Mali villagers
- Gabon oil workers’ strike halts Vaalco terminal output – union
- Kenya central bank holds main lending rate, says inflation expectations within target
- Namibia’s economy to rebound from recession this year – finmin
- Algeria’s biggest union urges Bouteflika to leave
- Nigeria bond yields drop after surprise central bank rate cut
- South Africa’s Sibanye-Stillwater will consider changing primary listing
- Algeria protests leader rejects army proposal on Bouteflika
- Saudi King Salman meets Libya’s General Haftar
- Algeria’s ruling coalition partner RND urges Bouteflika to resign – statement
- Mozambique says five cases of cholera confirmed after cyclone
- Kenya shilling holds steady against end-mth dollar demand
- Algeria awaits constitutional signal on Bouteflika’s fate
- South Africa’s Steinhoff raises $332 mln from KAP Industrial stake sale
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
