By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares slip; German, Korean data hurt risk appetite
- Dollar index near 2-yr peak, pound at 2-mth lows
- European shares seen slightly higher
- BoJ says rates will stay at extreme lows until early 2020
- Markets eye earnings, US Q1 GDP on Friday
Oil Markets
- Brent oil hits $75 for first time in 2019 amid tighter Iran sanctions
- Saudi Arabia, allies can compensate for Iran supply loss – Rysted
- US crude stocks at Oct 2017 high of 460.63 mln barrels – EIA
- US crude oil production at record 12.2 mln bpd – EIA
- Brent up 0.4 pct at $74.90 per barrel (0705GMT)
- WTI up 5 cents at $65.94 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold steadies as strong dollar negates support from weak data
- SPDR gold holdings fall to over 6-mth low
- Spot gold steady at $1,275.51 per ounce (0548GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,277.60 an ounce
Grains
- Soybeans tick up after 3 days of losses; wheat unmoved
- Most active CBOT wheat futures unchanged at $4.38-1/2 per bushel (0114GMT)
- Most active corn futures down 0.2 pct at $3.55-1/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 0.1 pct at $8.56-1/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures up 0.2 pct at $10.18 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- World Malaria Day
- Kenya’s Wajir West by-election
- South Africa’s 2019 national orders award ceremony
- South Africa’s Malema of the EFF on the campaign trail in Northwest province
- China Belt and Road Initiative forum starts in Beijing; leaders of Ethiopia, Kenya, etc attending
- Guinea’s Conde to visit Ivory Coast
- 2nd UN online digitial cooperation in Africa dialogue
- EABC-UNECA workshop on AfCFTA in Arusha, Tanzania
- Nigeria’s Buhari to visit northeast Borno state; heads to the UK afterwards
- South Africa’s Maimane of the DA on the campaign trail in Eastern Cape
- 3rd annual West Africa fertilizer forum in Lome, Togo; 24-26 Apr
- Zimbabwe international trade fair in Harare
- Tanzania’s Maguful in Malawi for 2-day state visit; arrived 24 Apr
- South Africa PIC inquiry continues
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Output at South Africa’s Amplats hit by Eskom power cuts
- South Africa’s rand dips as global growth fears, oil spike stokes risk-off
- South Africa’s Gold Fields Q1 production up 10 pct
- Tullow Oil cuts output guidance, Kenya timeline ‘ambitious’
- Tullow Oil downgrades output guidance, delays Uganda project
- Millions of children miss measles shots, creating outbreaks – UNICEF
- 3 members of Sudan military council resign after demand by opposition
- More food aid could boost fight against ebola in Congo, agencies say
- 325 detained migrants evacuated by UN as war reaches Tripoli, Libya
- Anti-abortion billboards fuel stigma in Kenya, say women’s rights groups
- More than 60 dead in South Africa after heavy rains
- Another cyclone expected to hit Mozambique on Thursday
- Ebola first responders threaten strike if security not improved
- South Africa intends to de-register militant mining union AMCU
- Sudan’s military council invites opposition for talks
- Tanzania makes $310 mln advance payment for dam on heritage site
- New CEO of Algeria’s Sonatrach pledges to boost output, exports
- Rwanda court repeals law banning satirical cartoons
- Libya – Detention centre opened but migrants too frightened to leave as war reaches Tripoli
- UN envoy hopes Libya peace efforts can bear fruit soon
- Algeria won’t extend crude-for-products deal with Vitol beyond April – sources
- Africa Oil – Angolan marked up amid tight supply, Nigerian diffs sluggish
- Italy urges Europe to ready plan for Libya refugee flight
- Oil firm Seplat eyes $700 mln for Nigerian gas development
- Aide to Libyan commander Haftar visits Moscow
- Another cyclone expected to hit Mozambique on Thursday
- South Africa’s Tongaat to restate prior results after accounting review
- Algeria’s tycoon Kouninef brothers placed in temporary custody – Ennahar TV
- Nigeria’s oil minister, Saudi Aramco discuss investment options
- Sudan’s protesters hope cheerful staying-power will oust army
- UK man guilty of possessing bomb-making materials in Kenya
- WHO recommends 1-hr maximum screen time per day for under-5s
- South Africa govt says it intends to de-register AMCU union
- Algeria investigating corruption allegations relating to ex-energy minister – Ennahar TV
- South Africa’s Life Healthcare warns on earnings after disposal
- Drones to deliver vaccines, blood and drugs across Ghana
- Kenya shilling weakens on energy sector demand
- South Africa consumer confidence dips further in Q1 – survey
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
