By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares inch up as cautious investors await US data, earnings
- MSCI Asia ex-Japan +0.17%; Nikkei -0.74%
- US retail sales data in focus
- Citigroup interest margin decline highlights headwinds for banks
Oil Markets
- Oil down for a second day as US Gulf of Mexico output returns
- Brent down 0.2% at $66.38 a barrel (0028GMT)
- WTI down 0.2% at $59.48
Precious metals
- Gold steady as investors eye US retail sales data
- Markets price in 25bp cut by the US Fed
- Platinum hovers near a 2-mth high
- Spot gold remains neutral in $1,404-$1,421/oz range – techs
- Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,415.19 per ounce (0521GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.2% at $1,416.60 an ounce
Grains
- Corn eases 1% as USDA tempers fears over crop condition
- Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.6% at $5.04-1/2 per bushel (0043GMT)
- Most active corn futures down 0.9% at $4.43 per bushel
- Most active soy futures down 0.6% at $9.14-1/2 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]
- Kenya trade week 2019 in Nairobi; 15-21 Jul
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues; Zuma to continue testimony
- South Africa PIC inquiry continues
- Gambia’s Barrow in UAE for 3-day state visit
- Afro-Asia fintech festival in Nairobi, Kenya; day 2
- Nigeria presidential election petitions tribunal continues
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Nigeria’s state oil firm awards oil-for-fuel swap deals – sources
- Africa Oil – Traders await September programmes
- Egypt revamps law curbing NGOs, critics unimpressed
- South Africa’s rand, stocks boosted by global risk-on settlement
- Egypt opens musuem commemorating Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz
- Libya’s H1 oil revenue dips to $10.2 bln
- Ethiopia premier’s aide named to lead restive Amhara region
- Ebola spread to east Congo’s Goma massively raises risk – UN
- Algeria suspends grain agency head in corruption probe – govt sources
- Abruptly appointed Zambia finance minister to review sales tax plan
- Defiant at inquiry, South Africa’s Zuma denies breaking law with business
- Zimbabwe inflation almost doubles, stirring memories of economic chaos
- With hip hop and bumper home loans, big banks target South Africa’s youth
- Zambia dollar bonds soar after president swaps finance minister
- Algeria suspends grains agency head over corruption allegations – govt sources
- Nigeria consumer inflation falls to 11.22% in June – stats office
- Treasurer of South Africa’s Eskom quits in latest high-profile departure
- Jailed Zimbabwe lawmaker facing subversion charges freed on bail
- South Africa’s Zuma denies having broken law with Gupta family
- UN calls for hundreds of millions in more aid to fight ebola
- EM debt soars to record $69.1 trln in Q1 on falling interest rates – IIF
- Uganda shilling unchanged as tax payments trims demand
- South Africa’s Zuma tells corruption inquiry there is conspiracy against him
- 2 ebola health workers killed in eastern Congo
- Zimbabwe’s annual inflation hits 10-yr high of 175.66%
- Zambia president removes finmin, appoints central bank deputy governor
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
