By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares buoyed by optimism on US-China trade talks
- MSCI ex-Japan gains, Nikkei at 4-1/2-month top
- Sentiment boosted by China data, JP Morgan results
- Positive news on Sino-US trade talks whet risk appetite
Oil Markets
- Oil pauses; focus on future supply direction
- Brent down 0.2 pct $71.44 per barrel (0629GMT)
- WTI down 0.4 pct at $63.63 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold slips to 1-wk low as global slowdown fears ease
- Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,288.85 per ounce (0109GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.2 pct at $1,292.20 an ounce
Grains
- Corn extends gains into second session on weather woes
- Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.5 pct at $4.62 per bushel (0112GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 0.2 pct at $3.61-3/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 0.1 pct at $8.96-1/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures up 0.2 pct at $10.49 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Ivanka Trump in Ethiopia, would also visit Ivory Coast
- Botswana’s Masisi in Qatar; 14-16 Apr
- IMF 2019 sub-Saharan Africa regional economic outlook at spring IMF meetings
- Nigeria inflation data for Mar-19 expected [fcst. 11.1% yy, prev. 11.3%]
- South Africa state capture inquiry resumes
- South Africa PIC inquiry resumes
- Malema of South Africa’s EFF on campaign trail in KZN
- Maimane of South Africa’s DA on campaign trail in KZN
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Egypt parliament to vote Tuesday on constitutional changes – speaker
- Sudan protesters demand civilian rule, military council says ready to comply
- Sudan’s military council removes defence minister, names new intelligence head
- Air strike kills Islamic State deputy in Somali region
- Ivanka Trump lands in Africa to promote US jobs plan for women
- Egypt’s president meets Libyan commander Haftar in Cairo
- Squalid conditions fuel frustration in South Africa township ahead of election
- Eastern Libya warplane crashes in southern Tripoli – military sources
- Egypt expects its debt to become ‘euroclearable’ in October – minister
- Sudan protesters await military’s response on transition demands
- Egypt, Israel inch closer to resolving gas arbitration – minister
- Struggle over leadership deepens divisions in Tunisia president’s party
- UAE welcomes new head of Sudan’s transitional military council
- New military council leader promises civilian govt for Sudan
- Head of Sudan’s rapid support forces appointed deputy head of transitional military council
- Eastern Libya parliament head says forces will push Tripoli campaign
- Somali security forces kill at least 6 people in Mogadishu
- Civilian govt to be established in Sudan – new head of military council
- Sudan’s security and intelligence chief quits – Sudanese TV
- Italy says military intervention ‘cannot be a solution’ in Libya
- Protesters keep up pressure on Sudan’s military for civilian rule
- Head of Sudan’s military coucil steps down, a day after Bashir toppled
- Sudan police: 16 killed by stray bullets at protests and sit-ins
- With Bouteflika gone, protesters in Algeria demand more change
- East Libya warplanes hit Tripoli govt positions
- Ebola spread concentrated in Congo, not a wider emergency – WHO
- Ex South Sudan rebel leader says believes unity govt won’t be ready by May 12
- Algeria police arrest 108 in Friday’s protests – police statement
- WHO opts not to label Congo ebola outbreak an international emergency
- Sudan’s transitional military council delays meeting with political parties and forces
- Morocco court sentences Swiss national to 10 years on terrorism charges
- Bashir ouster rekindles interest in long-defaulted Sudan loans
- About 1,500 migrants trapped in Tripoli, Libya, lives at risk – UNHCR
- Africa Crude – Angola set to clear as June programme looms
- Sudan’s military not greedy for power – political committee head
- Mozambique’s IMF loan program to be decided as soon as next week – official
- DR Congo troops kill 36 Burundi rebels in east – army
- Rwanda’s genocide survivors find reconciliation, income in women’s cooperatives
- South Africa’s Group Five to shed assets under business review
- South Africa’s Oceana Group sees HY profit up 30 pct
- Health experts discuss rise in ebola, to decide if emergency – WHO
- Thousands protests again in Algeria to demand political change
- Sudan woman in iconic protest image reports getting death threats
- South Africa’s Brimstone quits Clover buyout after anti-Israel pressure
- Military council says will not extradite Bashir, may try him in Sudan
- Kenya shilling holds steady against the dollar
- South Sudan frets over whether Sudan coup will derail fragile peace
- Gunmen abduct two Cuban doctors in Kenya, police arrest their driver
- New Sudan govt will be civilian – political military council head
- UN rights office urges Sudan to cooperate with ICC on Bashir case
- Uganda shilling steady, to firm due to waning importer demand
- Auto giants battle used car dealers for Africa’s huge market
- Disease outbreaks feared in Libya, as supplies stretched – WHO
- Sudan should free protesters, investigate use of force – UN’s Bachelet
- Ethiopia farmers struggle to scratch a living in warming highlands
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters