By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asia comforted as China data hint at recovery
- China GDP grows 6.4 pct, industrial output surges in March
- Nikkei edges up to highest since December
- NZ dollar, bond yields dive on soft inflation data
Oil Markets
- Oil prices rise for a 2nd day on China demand, US stockpile drop
- Brent rises to $72.08/bbl; highest in 2019
- OPEC supply cuts, US sanctions support oil prices
- China’s March refinery throughput up 3.2 pct y/y
- US crude stocks drop by 3.1 mln bbls last week – API data
- Brent up 0.4 pct at $72.01/bbl (0657GMT)
- WTI up 0.7 pct at $64.49/bbl
Precious metals
- Gold near 4-mth low as China GDP fuels risk sentiment
- Gold has fallen by over 5 pct from Feb high
- SPDR gold holdings fall to near 6-mth lows
- Spot gold up 0.1 pct at $1,277.32 per ounce (0513GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.2 pct at $1,278.80 an ounce
Grains
- Wheat ticks up after losses, global production outlook cap gains
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.1 pct at $4.45-1/2 per bushel (0015GMT)
- Most active corn futures down about 0.1 pct at $3.58-3/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures unchanged at $8.88 per bushel
- Most active rice futures up 0.1 pct at $10.53 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Ivanka Trump in Ivory Coast
- South Africa central bank to release monetary policy report
- South Africa retail sales data for Feb-19 [fcst. 1.3% yy, prev. 1.2%]
- South Africa inflation data for Mar-19 [act. 4.5% yy, fcst. 4.0%, prev. 4.1%]
- Namibia’s Geingob to deliver state of the nation address
- South Africa PIC inquiry continues
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
- Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa to tour Karo platinum exploration site in Mhondoro Ngezi
- South Africa’s Malema of the EFF on campaign trail in KZN
- South Africa’s Maimane of the DA on campaign trail in Northern Cape
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa of the ANC to officiate handover of primary schools in KZN
- 5th session of the Africa regional forum on sustainable development in Marrakesh, Morocco; day 2
- Odinga’s AfroChampions infrastructure Boma meeting in Nairobi, Kenya; day 2
- Nigeria’s senate to debate police reform bill
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Sudan’s Bashir moved to Khartoum’s Kobar prison – family sources
- South Africa consumer inflation quickens to 4.5 pct in March
- South Africa’s Tiger Brands to fight listeria class action
- South Africa’s rand lifted by faster Chinese growth
- Kenya’s Nation Media Group 2018 pretax profit down 16.4 pct
- Terrorist presence on migrants boats from Libya now a certainty – Italy’s Salvini
- Ebola survivors comfort sick and frightened in Congo outbreak
- Sudan’s interim military council fires 3 top public prosecutors
- Shelling in Libya capital kills 2, wounds 8 – Tripoli official
- Washington will not remove Sudan from terror list while military rules – US official
- 150 missing after shipwreck in eastern Congo
- Egypt’s parliament backs measures that could extend Sisi’s term
- Algeria military considering all options to end crisis
- Egypt’s Sisi calls Sudan’s military leader to offer support
- Cholera cases rise in Kenya’s capital, top hospital says
- Kenya food, water scarcity will worsen as rains fall – Met dept
- Ebola is real, Congo president tells sceptical population
- UN Security Council considers demanding Libya ceasefire
- Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein probe ‘labour abuses’ in Ethiopia factories
- Algeria’s Sonatrach says to hold talks with Chevron next week
- South Africa’s rand weaker after Moody’s report
- Kenya family files lawsuit against Boeing over Ethiopian Airlines crash
- Libya conflict stirs divisions in Gulf and Europe
- Russia recognises new authorities in Sudan – RIA agency
- Zimbabwe nearly doubles bread price as economic woes mount
- South Africa’s growing debt a concern – Moody’s
- Cholera cases rise in Kenya’s capital, top hospital says
- Zambia miner Lumwana says higher taxes will have severe impact on business
- South Africa’s Northam Platinum raises $118 mln with medium term note placement
- Uganda shilling holds steady as banks pare positions
- Kenya shilling weakens against the dollar
- Qatar call for arms embargo against Libya’s Haftar
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
