By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares fall as bets off on sharp US rate cuts
- Asia ex-Japan subdued, Australia at 5-wk low, Nikkei slips
- Strong US payrolls temper Fed rate cut expectations
- Turkish lira near 2-wk lows on c.bank independence worries
Oil Markets
- Oil extends gains, supported by surprise US jobs report
- Brent up 0.2% at $64.33 a barrel (0048GMT)
- WTI up 0.2% at $57.65 a barrel
Precious metals
- Gold subdued as strong US data temper Fed rate cut expectations
- SPDR Gold holdings fell 0.2% on Friday
- Spot gold may retest resistance at $1,439/oz – technicals
- Spot gold down 0.1% at $1,398.75/oz (0118GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.1% at $1,401/oz
Grains
- Corn jumps 1% as US crop forecast stokes supply woes
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.2% at $5.16 per bushel (0320GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 1% at $4.46-1/2 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 0.6% at $9.00-1/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $11.50 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Kenya’s Kenyatta to open maritime academy in Mombasa
- South Africa state capture inquiry resumes
- South Africa PIC inquiry resumes
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Libya’s Mitiga airport resumes air traffic following a missile strike
- Economic “game changer”? African leaders launch free-trade zone
- Tunisia recovers 14 migrants’ bodies after dozens drowned off coast
- US welcomes Sudan power-sharing deal as ‘important step forward’
- Eastern Libya, US firm close to signing Libya port deal
- South Africa’s Steinhoff appoints Theodore Klerk as CFO
- UN council pushes Libya truce, tells other countries to stay out
- Algerian protesters keep up pressure on country’s rulers
- Nigeria to seize $40 mln of jewellery, gold iPhone from ex-minister
- Ramaphosa: South Africa must not let economy be held back by US-China trade war
- Africa Oil – East Asian demand perks up as backwardation, freight ease
- Egypt hikes domestic fuel prices as it rounds off subsidy reform
- South Africa’s watchdog tells Ramaphosa to discipline minister Gordhan
- Nigeria orders banks to lend or face sanctions
- Ethiopia to issue two telecom licences, minority stake in monopoly – official
- 2 Chinese workers kidnapped in Nigeria’s Edo state – police
- Tunisia PM bans face veils in public institutions after bombing
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa: US-China trade war born from jealousy
- Delayed Airtel Africa’s $4.4 bln Nigeria listing to go ahead on Monday
- South Africa’s Denel asks for cash injection, rebuffs Saudi bid
- Uganda shilling unchanged as both importers and banks stay on sidelines
- UAE says it will stand with Sudan in “good times and bad times” – official on Twitter
- South African drugmaker Aspen terminates talks with potential European partner
- Acacia Mining reports 13% rise in gold reserves for Tanzania mine
- South Africa’s net foreign reserves rise to $43.940 bln in June
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters