By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares dip amid caution on global growth, US earnings
- MSCI Asia ex-Japan -0.1 pct
- European shares expected to edge higher
- Volumes seen low ahead of US 1Q earnings season
- Euro jumps on Japan demand
Oil Markets
- Oil prices rise as market tightens, but demand concerns linger
- Brent up 0.2 pct at $71.03 per barrel (0635GMT)
- WTI up 0.4 pct at $63.82 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold prices steady after steep fall
- Spot gold up about 0.1 pct at $1,293.19 per ounce (0123GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.3 pct at $1,296.60 an ounce
Grains
- Soybeans, corn set for weekly losses dismal US exports
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.2 pct at $4.61-1/2 per bushel (0136GMT)
- Most active corn futures down 0.1 pct at $3.59-1/2 per bushel
- Most active soy futures down 0.1 pct at $8.94-1/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures down 0.1 pct at $10.28 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- IMF/World Bank spring meetings; 12-14 Apr
- Ghana’s Akufo-Addo on 5-day nationwide tour
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
- Kenya’s Kenyatta in Mauritius; rounding up
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Demanding civilian govt, thousands defy military curfew in Sudan
- Libya oil chief warns fighting could “wipe out” crude production – NOC
- Gunmen abduct two Cuban doctors in Kenya
- Auto giants battle used car dealers for Africa’s huge market
- Home market still a dream for African carmakers
- Emerging market nations seek collective solution to trade tensions
- Military ousts Sudan’s Bashir, protesters demand civilian govt
- Nightmares, guilt and awards: 5 years after the Chibok kidnap
- Libya’s NOC chief: oil and gas exports facing the biggest threat since 2011
- Defence minister Ibn Auf to head Sudan’s military transition council – state tv
- US suspends talks with Sudan after military ousts Bashir
- Sudan woman in iconic protest image reports getting death threats
- Tripoli forces take prisoners as EU demands Libya’s Haftar to stop offensive
- US says Sudanese people should be allowed peaceful transition
- Nigeria troops forced 10,000 people to leave northwest town – UN
- South Africa township squalid and neglected despite 25 years of black rule
- EU wheat steady with Chicago as Algeria tender assessed
- Africa Crude – Spot activity grinds to a halt ahead of new programme
- More than 190 eastern Libyan troops taken prisoner – officials
- South Africa clears 3 more accounts of Steinhoff insider trading
- South Sudan frets over whether Sudan coup could derail fragile peace deal
- Turkey’s Erdogan calls for national reconciliation in Sudan
- Ethiopia inquiry shows Boeing MAX hurtling uncontrolled to disaster
- Thousands protest against army statement in central Khartoum, Sudan
- Vodacom Tanzania pleads guilty, settles charges against CEO, employees
- France seeks assurances on migrants, militants and political solution for Libya in EU position
- Sudan’s security service announces release of political prisoners
- South Africa’s manufacturing output up 0.6 pct y/y in February
- World Bank puts Mozambique’s economic losses from Cyclone Idai at up to $773 mln
- African, Syrian migrants in crosshairs of Libya war
- Zimbabwe reaches agreement with IMF on economic reform programme
- Libya fighting kills 56, European powers jostle over conflict
- Zimbabwe GDP growth below target at 4 pct in 2018 – Treasury
- Uganda shilling unchanged as corporate demand ebbs
- Kenya shilling weakens due to importer demand, excess liquidity
- Road traffic charity paves way to safer cities for African children
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
