By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares wobble amid trade, geopolitical tensions; focus on Fed meeting
- European shares seen opening higher
- Dollar index holds near 2-wk high after solid US retail data
- Investors await upcoming FOMC: BoJ, BoE also meet this week
- Bitcoin jumps to 13-mth high
Oil Markets
- Oil prices climb after tanker attacks stoke Middle East tensions
- Brent up by 0.2%, WTI gains 3 cents
- Pompeo says all options available on tanker issue
- Brent up 14 cents at $62.15 a barrel (0645GMT)
- WTI up 3 cents at $52.54 a barrel
Precious metals
- Gold prices subdued on firmer dollar; Fed meeting in focus
- SPDR Gold holdings rise 0.6% on Friday
- Spot gold down 0.2% at $1,338.86 per ounce (0549GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.2% at $1,343.90 an ounce
Grains
- Corn jumps 2% to hit 5-yr high on crop uncertainty
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.5% at $5.41-1/4 per bushel (0029GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 2.2% at $4.62-3/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 1.2% at $9.07-1/2 per bushel
- Most active rice futures down 0.3% at $11.61 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa youth day; public holiday
- US-Africa Business Summit in Maputo, Mozambique; 18-21 Jun [Trump’s “Prosper Africa” initiative to be launched]
- South Africa state capture inquiry & PIC inquiry resume tomorrow; 18 Jun
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Airtel Africa expects London IPO to be priced between 80-100 pence share
- In Algeria, conservatives weigh in against pressure for Western-style democracy
- Cairo’s “mother of Egyptian musuems” set for revamp
- Egypt in $500 mln settlement with Israel Electric Corp – statement
- Sudan’s Bashir charged with corruption, in 1st appearance since April
- Egypt’s state-owned Banque du Caire net profit surges
- Former Algerian officials questioned over corruption – TV
- Four Cameroon police killed by suspected seperatist bomb – govt
- Armed gang kills at least 34 in northwest Nigeria, police say
- South Africa youth unemployment a “national crisis” – president
- French, Malian forces kill 20 militants in operation – Mali army
- Algeria partner of Germany’s VW questioned in corruption case – state TV
- Saudi energy minister hopes OPEC agrees to extend production cut “early July”
- Ousted Sudan president to be sent for trial soon, prosecutor says
- Morocco’s sale of 8% stake in Maroc Telecom to pump $920 mln into state budget
- WHO panel decides not to declare international ebola emergency
- Libya-Norway fertilizer venture to restart operations shortly – NOC
- Senegal police detain protesters amid outcry over gas deal
- Distrust between Sudan parties makes direct talks impossible – US official
- Nigeria to shut bank accounts of firms which import FX restricted goods
- Investors that don’t pay taxes should be kicked out of Zambia – Lungu
- Africa Crude – Some July Angolan clears in spot activity
- Celebrating arrests, but still pushing for change, protesters rally in Algeria
- Ghana, Ivory Coast cocoa floor price seen as small step toward ending child labour
- Uganda shilling unchanged as appetite slows
- South Africa AMCU union seeks $1,145 monthly basic wage in pay talks
- Kenya shilling weakens against the dollar
- Spotlight gives hope to Africa’s hunted albinos
- South Africa’s Omnia flags full-year loss
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
