By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian stocks slip amid persisting trade angst, political tensions
- Focus shifts to trade, Middle East tensions after Fed euphoria
- European stocks futures decline early trade
- Gold advances to 6-yr high, crude dips after big surge
- Dollar struggles, govt bonds buoyant post-Fed
Oil Markets
- Oil rises towards $65 on fears of US attack on Iran
- Oil extends gains after 5 pct rally on Thursday
- Trump warned Iran via Oman of imminent attack – sources
- Trump approved strike, then pulled back – NYT
- Iran not keen on talks, warns of consequences – sources
- Brent up 0.7% at $64.87 a barrel (0850GMT)
- WTI up 0.4% at $57.28 a barrel
Precious metals
- Gold scales near 6-yr peak on dovish Fed signals
- Spot gold up 0.4% at $1,392.81 an ounce (0128GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.1% at $1,398.10 an ounce
Grains
- Corn prices extend gains as rains threaten US planting
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.2% at $5.27-3/4 per bushel (0106GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 0.9% at $4.54 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 0.1% at $9.16-1/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures down 0.1% at $11.22 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Kenya’s Kenyatta Rift Valley tour
- Malawi presidential election tribunal ruling expected
- US-Africa Business Summit in Maputo, Mozambique; 18-21 Jun
- Afreximbank 2019 annual meetings in Moscow
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
- 2019 Africa Public Service Day in Nairobi, Kenya; Kenyatta speech
- Senegal’s Sall in Ivory Coast
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South African rand falls after Ramaphosa speech seen lacking details
- Vodacom unit to sell operations in 4 African markets
- French car maker PSA opens $630 mln Morocco plant
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa says Eskom too vital to fail
- South African National Treasury hopes for swift approval of bill to speed up funds to Eskom
- Africa Oil – Angolan trades in the window
- Hundreds demonstrate for civilian rule in Sudan’s state capitals
- Displaced families suffering subhuman conditions in Ethiopia – Egeland
- US finds Nigeria, Niger improving anti-trafficking efforts
- Zambia court rejects Vedanta bid to join liquidation case
- Mercuria, South African firms place bids for South32’s SAEC coal mines
- Lafarge Africa rises to 3-wk high after it sells South African unit
- Heavy rains dampen Nigeria’s 2018/19 cocoa outlook
- African Bank moves to stem client exodus, safeguard South African comeback
- Kenya shilling weakness not linked to bank note plan – cbank
- South Sudan lawmakers quit budget presentation over unpaid public salaries
- Sudan’s military council dismisses public prosecutor, appoints replacement – sources
- Zimbabwe’s currency hits new low, firms demanding payment in US dollars
- Uganda shilling strengthens on inflows from offshore investors
- Turkey’s Erdogan says he believes UN will look into death of Egypt’s Mursi
- Kenya central bank governor says recent downward movement of shilling not an issue
- Marketing division manager Kyari to head Nigerian state oil firm
- Soccer – FIFA expected to take over the running of African football
- Kenya slashes 2030 power production targets as usage still low – media
- Nigeria’s Buhari appoints new head of state oil firm – NNPC statement
- Angola oil struggles to sell on demand fears, weak margins
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
