By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Investors eye Fed decision later today
- Fed likely to ignore Trump’s call to cut interest rates
- Sterling strengthens ahead of BoE MPC meet
- China, US hold ‘productive’ trade talks in Beijing
- New Zealand dollar hurt by jobs setback
Oil Markets
- Oil falls on swelling US stockpiles, but global markets tense
- US crude stocks rise to 466.4 mln barrels – API
- Crisis in Venezuela seen as risk to oil supply
- US ends all waivers on Iran sanctions
- US oil output, exports are rising
- Brent down 0.8 pct at $71.52 a barrel (0652GMT)
- WTI down 1 pct at $63.25 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold steady as markets brace for Fed decision
- Spot gold nearly steady at $1,282.01 per ounce (0107GMT)
- US gold futures little changed at $1,284.30 an ounce
Grains
- Corn extends gains into sixth session on planting delay fears
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.4 pct at $4.30-1/4 per bushel (0118GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 0.6 pct at $3.64-1/2 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 0.2 pct at $8.55-1/2 per bushel
- Most active rice futures down 0.3 pct at $10.55 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- May day
- World press freedom day
- Decision on South Africa’s Semenya at court of arbitration for sports
- South Africa’s COSATU May day rally in eThekwini to be graced by Ramaphosa; to deliver keynote speech
- World Bank’s Malpass in Africa (29 Apr – 3 May); Ethiopia and Mozambique next, after visiting Madagascar
- UK foreign secretary Hunt in Africa (29 Apr – 3 May); Ethiopia & Kenya next, after visiting Senegal, Ghana & Nigeria
- South Africa’s state capture inquiry resumes tomorrow; 2 May
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Arab states support Sudan transition, want stability – UAE minister
- Dutch court to hear case against Shell brought by Nigerian activists’ widows
- 2 Shell oil workers rescued after Nigeria Delta region kidnapping – police
- Gambia signs oil exploration deal with BP for A1 block
- South Africa’s Sibanye shaft declared safe, miners brought to surface
- Algeria’s ruling party names relatively young new leader amid protests
- Congo drops mercenaries investigation of opposition leader Katumbi
- Sudan protest group says military “not serious” about civilian handover
- Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood says it will continue “peaceful” work regardless of Trump moves
- Congo central bank cuts main interest rate to 9 pct
- Algeria’s ruling FLN party elects new leader – state TV
- Rains torment cyclone-hit communities in Mozambique
- IMF staff says buildup of Zambia’s domestic expenditure arrears poses risk
- Air strike kills four people in Somalia – relatives
- Russia, Turkey call for ceasefire in Libya – Kremlin
- South Africa’s Steinhoff cuts value of goodwill assets in 2017 accounts
- Sudan protest group says military council “not serious” about civilian handover
- Africa Oil – Awards for Indian tenders awaited, Nigerian offered high
- South Africa’s rand steadies after trade data, stocks fall
- Rwanda to increase spending by 11 pct in 2019-20
- Support for South Africa’s ANC at 51-61 pct, opinion polls show
- Egypt’s M2 money supply growth slows to 11.38 pct y/y in March – c.bank
- African countries hit by commodity slump must ‘re-calibrte’ debt – IMF Africa chief
- Nigeria’s Senate hikes 2019 budget with focus on security
- Nigeria deploys satellite tech to track oil smugglers
- Nigerian lawmakers pass 8.91 tln naira budget for 2019
- Algeria army chief says big corruption cases to be revealed
- Cambridge University to study how it profited from Atlantic slavery
- South Africa posts trade balance surplus in March
- Ivory Coast bans Olam rice imports for one year after spoilt shipment
- Drought puts 2.3 mln people at risk in Angola – UNICEF
- Rwanda detains rebel leader from group behind deadly attacks – minister
- Kenya Airways likely to stick with Boeing as losses narrow
- Sudan women at forefront of protests after years of oppression
- Sudan’s military rulers accept resignations of three of their members
- Uganda shilling strengthens on the back of charity flows
- South African Airways agrees debt rollover deal in principle – CEO
- Hengyi buys African crude ahead of Brunei refinery startup – sources
- Kenya inflation shoots up to 6.58 pct in April due to food, fuel prices
- As rains break, aid workers rush to reach cyclone victims in Mozambique
- Kenya shilling strengthens against the dollar
- Algeria ex-PM in court for corruption probe – Ennahar TV
- Kenya’s Equity Group in deal to buy African bank stakes
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
