By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares fall as weak data inflames growth fears
- MSCI Asia ex-Japan -0.3%
- China blue-chips down 1.2%
Oil Markets
- Oil prices fall amid economic slowdown despite ongoing OPEC supply cuts
- Analysts say economic slowdown starting to hit oil demand
- Saudi Arabia sees consensus on extending supply cuts
- Brent down 0.7 pct at $60.88 per barrel (0038GMT)
- WTI down 0.6 pct at $52.94 per barrel
Precious metals
- Gold holds near 3-mth peak as trade fears boost safe-haven demand
- Spot gold up 0.1 pct at $1,326.49 per ounce (0136GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.3 pct at $1,332.20 an ounce
Grains
- Corn jumps 2% as US govt confirms planting delays
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.7 pct at $5.23-1/2 per bushel (0018GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 2.3 pct at $4.34 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 1.1 pct at $8.89 per bushel
- Most active rice futures down 0.3 pct at $11.67 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Kenya’s Kenyatta & Ethiopia’s Zewde attending Women Deliver conference in Canada
- South Africa GDP Q1-2019 [fcst. -0.8% qq saa, prev. 1.4%]
- South Africa’s ruling ANC to hold post-NEC lekgotla press conference
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Sudan’s military scraps deal with protest groups, calls for elections within 9 mths
- Airtel Africa to file for London IPO
- Sudan forces storm protest camp, more than 35 people killed
- Senegal’s opposition calls for inquiry on BP gas deal
- Nigeria court blocks watchdog from replacing boss of oil firm Oando – document
- Spain urges more EU aid to help Morocco tackle migration
- Sudan public prosecutor to investigate violence at protest site – SUNA
- Morocco’s trade deficit widens 5 pct y/y in Jan-Apr
- UN chief condemns violence against civilians in Sudan
- Athletics – South Africa’s Semenya free to run without medication while appeal is heard – court
- South African rand firms on weaker dollar, focus on GDP numbers, stocks up
- Africa Oil – Price offerings marked down further, interest perks up
- Zambia starts electricity rationing for non-mining industry
- UK foreign minister condemns Sudan sit-in dispersal
- BP agrees to sell Egypt oil assets to Dubai’s Dragon Oil
- South Africa’s Shoprite halts deal that would cut chairman’s voting influence
- IMF urges South Africa to speed up reforms to boost growth
- ArcelorMittal’s South Africa unit to face emissions charges
- Egypt May net foreign reserves rise to $44.27 bln – central bank
- Kenya’s central banker warns about impact of illicit flows
- Zimbabwe’s mineral-backed loans may complicate talks with creditors, IMF says
- Angola, Eni make new offshore oil discovery – state news agency
- Sudan opposition says halting all contact with military council
- Egypt to auction $715 mln in 1-yr dollar t-bills
- China demand for Angola crude oil stalls as buyers hold out for lower prices
- South Africa Absa pmi drops in May
- Kenya shilling steady against the dollar
- Sudan military council says criminals, not protesters, targeted, talks to resume soon
- Sudan protest leader says to step up civil disobedience after “coup”
- South Africa’s Sasol says 2nd unit at LCCP starts production
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
