By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares flatline after Fed’s neutral message
- Japan & China markets shut for public holidays
- MSCI ex-Japan down 0.1 pct, Australian shares off 0.7 pct
- Dollar gains overnight as Fed says neutral
Oil Markets
- Oil prices weighed down by record US output, inventories
- US oil output & stock levels surge
- No immediate OPEC output cut in sight
- Iran, Venezuela exports slump
- Brent down 61 cents at $71.57 per barrel (0837GMT)
- WTI down 60 cents at $63.00 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold falls to 1-wk low as Fed ambiguity clouds rate-cut bets
- Platinum touches lowest in nearly a month
- Silver near 4-mth low
- Spot gold down 0.3 pct at $1,272.01 per ounce (0610GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.9 pct at $1,273.20 an ounce
Grains
- Corn hits 5-wk high on planting delay concerns
- Most active CBOT corn futures up 0.1 pct at $3.68-3/4 per bushel (0131GMT)
- Most active soybean futures little changed at $8.51-1/2 per bushel
- Most active wheat futures up 0.1 pct at $4.36-1/4 per bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- 26th World press freedom day celebrations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 1-3 May
- South Africa state capture inquiry resumes
- South Africa Absa manufacturing PMI for Apr-19 [prev. 45.0]
- South Africa total new vehicle sales for Apr-19 [prev. 47.718K]
- World Bank’s Malpass in Africa (Madagascar, Ethiopia, & Mozambique); 29 Apr – 3 May
- UK foreign secretary Hunt in Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, Ghana, & Nigeria); 29 Apr – 3 May
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa of the ANC on campaign trail in Tshwane
- South Africa’s Maimane of the DA on campaign trail in KZN
- South Africa’s IEC to give update on election preparedness #SAElections2019
- Namibia financial stability report release
- South Africa constitutional court to decide on independent candidacy in New Nation Movement NPC v President of RSA case
- Africa travel indaba opens in Durban, South Africa
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Haftar’s ally UAE says “extremist militias” control Libya capital
- Solar tracking bracelets protect nomadic Kenya mothers and babies
- South Africa’s rand firmer after US Fed holds lending rates
- Libya’s NOC chief warns of risk of terrorist infiltration into oil fields – TV
- Germany’s Merkel bolsters support for west African states
- Algeria’s army chief of staff says military will prevent violence in country – TV
- New CEO of Algeria’s Sonatrach says foreign energy partnerships essential
- Olympic champion Semenya loses appeal over testosterone rules
- Africa Oil – Marketing starts for new Angolan grade
- World Bank approves $250 mln loan to Kenya for affordable housing
- In parched South Africa, water-storing football fields give drought the boot
- Libya coast guard detains 113 migrants during lull in fighting
- South Sudan denies kidnapping, executing prominent critics
- Widows of hanged Nigeria activists can continue case vs Shell – Dutch court
- “The food is going”: thousands stranded in cyclone-hit Mozambique
- Tunisia raises minimum wages, pensions to tackle discontent
- BP enters Gambia with exploration deal in disputed A1 block
- Anger at corruption dents faith in South African president, ANC before poll
- African Union tells Sudan military council to hand power to civilians within 60 days
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
