By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asia stocks gain, dollar sags as Fed reinforces rate cut expectations
- MSCI Asia-Pacific index up 0.3%, Nikkei gains 1%
- Dovish views from Fed’s Williams cement rate cut expectations
- US yields fall, gold hits 6-yr high on US rate cut prospect
Oil Markets
- Oil rises after US Navy destroys Iranian drone
- Brent up 1.3% at $62.75 (0100GMT)
- WTI up 1.1% at $55.91
Precious metals
- Gold hits 6-yr peak on US rate cut prospect, Middle East tensions
- Spot gold down 0.2% at $1,442.71 (0117GMT)
- US gold futures up 1% at $1,441.90/oz.
Grains
- Corn faces biggest weekly drop in 2 yrs on cooler US weather
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.2% at $4.94-1/4 per bushel (0112GMT)
- Most active corn futures down about 0.1% at $4.29-1/2 per bushel
- Most active soy futures down 0.1% at $8.97-3/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures down 0.7% at $11.81 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Ghana central bank MPC decision [fcst. 15.0%, prev. 16.0%]
- South Africa state capture inquiry resumes; Zuma to continue testimony
- Kenya’s Kenyatta to commission Loiyangalani-Suswa power line
- Kenya trade week 2019 in Nairobi; 15-21 Jul
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- UN demands release of abducted lawmaker and Haftar critic in eastern Libya
- WHO flags ebola risk in Rwanda, but then withdraws its report
- Libya’s Mitiga airport resumes air traffic, following an air strike
- Sudan urged to ensure justice for raped women protesters
- Zimbabwe state workers accept pay deal, avert strike
- Ethiopia averts confrontation as party delays plan for new region
- South African soldiers deployed in Cape Town to help fight gangs
- 3 sentenced to death for Morocoo backpacker murders
- Tanzania to buy new Airbus, Bombardier planes for national carrier
- South Africa’s rand, bonds rally after central bank cuts rates
- Sudan protesters take over square where Bashir challenged uprising
- Africa Oil – Angolan clears as Nigeria programmes emerge
- South Africa cuts rates but strikes cautious tone
- IMF programme “positive” for Congo Republic’s lowly credit rating – Moody’s
- Ivory Coast sells 1.6 mln T of cocoa export contracts by July 12 – CCC sources
- South African central bank cuts rates by 25 bps
- 2 killed in suicide bombing, 4 beheaded in Egypt’s N.Sinai, sources say
- Eni officials tried to tamper with witness in Nigeria case
- Uganda shilling little-changed, may weaken on energy demand
- Renault and Nigeria’s Coscharis Group form partnership
- Kenya shilling holds steady against the dollar
- Madagascar vanilla crop quality suffers as thieves spark violence
- Ebola patient suspected of going to Rwanda – report
- World Bank contradicts Tanzania’s growth estimates
- South Africa’s Liberty sees H1 earnings to rise
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
