By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares struggle near 8-mth highs on trade jitters
- MSCI ex-Japan steps back from 8-mth highs
- Investors focused on US-China trade talks
Oil Markets
- Oil prices edge lower after US inventories build
- Brent down 2 cents at $69.29 (0100GMT)
- WTI down 14 cents at $62.34
Precious metals
- Gold gains on tepid dollar; focus on US-China trade talks
- SPDR gold holdings fell to lowest since Dec. 17 on Wed
- Platinum eases after rising the most in over 2 years on Wed
- Spot gold up 0.2 pct at $1,292.24 per ounce (0537GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.1 pct at $1,296.60 an ounce
Grains
- Corn up for 2nd session on US planting delays, soybeans firm
- Most active CBOT wheat futures unchanged at $4.71 per bushel (0110GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 0.3 pct at $3.63-3/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 0.1 pct at $8.99-3/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures down 0.1 pct at $10.66 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Ethiopia to release plane crash report
- Senegal independence day
- Kenya’s Kenyatta state of the nation address
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa on the campaign trail in Diepsloot
- South Africa’s BRIC Business Council mid-term meeting
- South Africa PIC inquiry
- Ghana import duties to be cut; by 50 pct
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Kenya shilling edges up against the dollar
- Fire disrupts one terminal at Kenya’s main airport in Nairobi
- Ethiopia to issue first Boeing investigation report on Thursday
- Pompeo pledges support for Congo’s Tshisekedi ‘change agenda’ in first meeting
- Eastern Libya forces move west, skirmish south of Tripoli
- Dozens die in Burkina Faso as Sahel conflict spirals
- Boeing software re-activated before Ethiopian crash – sources
- Algeria’s interim rulers under pressure for more change as Bouteflika goes
- Tripoli govt declares alert after eastern Libya forces move west
- American kidnapped on Uganda safari, $500k ransom demanded
- Eastern Libya forces moving west, say Tripoli key to national dignity
- South Africa’s Eskom chairman wants debt to be $18 bln lower
- Tanzania charges Vodacom Tanzania MD with economic crimes – court
- Africa Crude – Angola market strong, some cargoes re-offered
- South Africa could give troubled Eskom more financial support
- Zimbabwe finmin criticises ‘profiteering’ price hikes as new currency falls
- Cholera vaccinations launched in post-cyclone Mozambique
- Nigeria appoints local banks for 3.4 tln naira note issue
- Congo’s public revenues from mining sector nearly double in 2018
- Egypt foreign reserves rise to $44.11 bln at end-March – cbank
- South Africa’s Nampak sells Nigeria paper packing business
- Algeria’s caretaker rulers face unrelenting demands for wider change after Bouteflika quits
- Nigeria’s Oando aims to raise fresh capital, cut debt – CEO
- Vodacom Tanzania says MD questioned by police over network use
- Brazil’s Embraer signs $2.1 bln order with Nigeria’s Air Peace – filing
- M-Pesa helps drive up Kenyans’ access to financial services – study
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
