By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Global shares, oil drop after Trump tariff threat
- MSCI Asia ex-Japan sinks 1.9 pct
- European shares seen following suit; London closed
- Trump tweets tariff hike on Chinese goods due Friday
- China blue-chips drop more than 6 pct despite targeted RRR cut
- Safe-haven yen jumps, China’s yuan plummets
Oil Markets
- Oil prices slump after Trump’s tariff threats against China
- Brent down 2.1 pct at $69.34 per barrel (0646GMT)
- WTI down 2.2 pct at $60.57 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold gains as Trump threatens to increase tariffs on Chinese goods
- Spot gold up 0.3 pct at $1,282.96 per ounce (0121GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.2 pct at $1,283.70 an ounce
Grains
- Soybean prices sink to lowest in over 7 months
- Most active CBOT soybean futures down 2.2 pct at $8.24-1/4 per bushel
- Most active corn futures down 3.2 pct at $3.59-1/4 per bushel
- Most active wheat futures down 2.2 pct at $4.28-1/2 per bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Nigeria’s Buhari to meet visiting UN general assembly president Maria Garces in Abuja
- Ethiopia national day of mourning for former president Gidada
- Ghana’s central bank to introduce upgraded bank notes
- South Africa Standard Bank PMI Apr-19 [act. 50.3, prev. 48.8]
- Nigeria Stanbic IBTC Bank PMI Apr-19 [prev. 53.6]
- South Africa state capture inquiry resumes
- South Africa high court to hear case between journalist Karima Brown & EFF’s Malema
- Rwanda central bank MPC meeting & decision
- Special voting for 2019 South Africa elections commence (6-7 May); main vote on 8 May
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa’s Massmart CEO Hayward to step down
- Kenya shilling firms, helped by remittances
- South Sudan says agrees oil exploration deal with South Africa
- Kosmos Energy looks to sell down interest in Mauritania-Senegal basin
- Libya’s Haftar orders troops to fight harder during Ramadan
- Benin guide for missing French tourists found dead
- Morocco’s Q1 unemployment rate edges down to 10 pct
- Total enters $8.8 bln deal with Occidental for Anadarko’s Africa assets
- Sudan’s military council says it will present vision for country’s transition on Monday
- Sudan’s ousted president Bashir questioned in corruption investigation – prosecutor
- UN calls for a week-long humanitarian truce in Libya capital
- Egypt’s net foreign reserves at $44.218 bln at end-April – c.bank
- Brother of Algeria’s ex-President Bouteflika placed in custody by military judge – state tv
- South Africa’s ruling ANC vows to act on corruption; EFF promises radical reforms
- Egypt expects giant solar park to be fully operational in 2019
- South Africa’s ruling ANC vows to punish corrupt officials as national vote nears
- Egypt’s Qalaa Holdings’ revenues to exceed 90 bln EGP next year – chairman
- Egypt non-oil private sector activity expands for first time in 8 months – PMI
- Tunisia police kills 3 militants in Sidi Bouzid
- Morocco considers measures to increase tax revenue
- Libya’s NOC calls for safe return of head of oil union taken in east
- Algeria police arrest brother of former president, 2 former intelligence chiefs – sources
- Protest in southwest Sudan ends in violence
- Hardline Egyptian Islamist receives 5-yr sentence for court siege case
- 710 fighters of Libya’s official govt killed since beginning of battle for Tripoli
- Sudan faces fuel crisis and worsening cash crunch
- Ethnic attacks in Mali killed 18 civilians this week – peacekeeping mission
- South Africa’s largest opposition party promises to lead coalitions, tackle racism
- Tunisia’s annual inflation falls to 6.9 pct in April
- Islamic State and Chadian fighters behind attack in southern Libya – source
- Athletics – Olympic chief sympathises with South Africa’s Semenya, respects CAS decision
- Athletics – UK runner Sharp received death threats for South Africa’s Semenya comments
- Athletics – South Africa’s Semenya’s future in doubt after she says no to medication to lower testosterone
- Congo ebola deaths surpass 1,000 as attacks on treatment centres go on
- South Sudan parties agree on six more months to form unity govt – IGAD
- Zimbabwe extends central bank governor’s term by another five years
- Malawi sentences man to death for murder of albino teenager
- Congo records 1,000th ebola death in current outbreak
- South Sudan lifts state of emergency in north – state radio
- Hundreds of thousands protest against ruling elite in Algeria
- Africa Crude – Total sells IOC a VLCC, Nigerian outlook brightens
- World Bank to boost lending to Africa to help fight poverty – Malpass
- Cameroon’s GDP growth to rise to 4.2 pct in 2019 – IMF
- Zambia’s finance minister says tax reforms needed to cut debt
- Tunisia orders army to transport fuel during walkout
- South African logistics firm recommends review of bulk liquid terminal tender
- World Bank scales up support for Cyclone Idai hit nations to $700 mln
- Diplomats condemn order suspending Uganda journalists
- Uganda shilling weakens on demand from importers and banks
- Will young voters have their say in South Africa’s election?
- Kenya shilling strengthens against the dollar
- Kenya’s Safaricom FY earnings jump on m-pesa growth
- AfDB to lend Tunisia $500 mln in 2019
- MTN appoints South Africa’s former deputy finmin as chairman-designate
- Frustration over South African racial disparities builds as poll nears
- Congolese refugees cross illegally into Uganda, raising risk of ebola – aid groups
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters