By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asia shares cautious in case Powell closes rate door
- Asian shares mixed in quiet trade
- Bull hope Fed Chairman Powell will sound dovish enough
- Dollar supported as Treasury yields edge up from lows
- Oil prices up as US stockpiles fall
Oil Markets
- Oil rises more than 1% after US stockpile drop; Brent nears $65
- Brent up 1.1% at $64.85 per barrel (0027GMT)
- WTI up 1.5% at $58.73
Precious metals
- Gold dips as dollar ticks higher, all eyes on Fed
- Spot gold down 0.4% at $1,391.98 per ounce (0103GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.4% at $1,394.40 an ounce
Grains
- Corn falls 1% to 1-wk low on easing yield worries
- Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.7% at $4.99-1/2 per bushel (0212GMT)
- Most active corn futures down 1% at $4.33 per bushel
- Most active soy futures down 0.3% at $9.01-1/2 per bushel
- Most active rice futures down 0.4% at $11.84 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
- South Africa PIC inquiry continues
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Morocco revises 2019 growth forecast down to 2.7%
- Libya – At least 100 migrants walk free from shelled detention cente in Tripoli
- South Sudan court rules against of marriage of girl, 16, in landmark case
- Zimbabwe public workers reject $21 mln pay rise
- Moroccan jailed by Portugal for recruiting for Syrian war
- Nigeria parliament on lockdown after clash with Shi’ite group
- Nigerian Shi’ite group say police shot at them outside parliament
- Africa Oil – Diffs supported by firmer gasoline margins
- South Africa’s rand steady as traders eye Fed, stocks down
- South African platinum firms kick off wage talks
- Some internet service restored in Sudan after court ruling
- Zimbabwe lawmaker charged with subversion over Mnangagwa threat
- Airtel Africa lists in Nigeria
- Determined to reach Europe, migrants defy Morocco’s crackdown
- South African central bank stresses importance of independence
- Kenya shilling firms, helped by investors buying bonds
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
