By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asia stocks welcome trade talks, euro on defensive
- Cautious welcome to news of new Sino-US trade meetings
- Nasdaq futures dip as DoJ investigates digital giants
- Dollar firm, euro pressured ahead of ECB policy meeting
- Oil gains on inventory draw, Middle East tensions
Oil Markets
- Oil prices gain on US inventory drop, Middle East tensions
- Brent up 0.3% at $64.03 a barrel (0300GMT)
- WTI up 0.4% at $57.00 a barrel
Precious metals
- Gold gains on rate cut hopes, Middle East tensions
- Spot gold up 0.2% at $1,420.40 per ounce (0128GMT)
- US gold futures steady at $1,420.80 an ounce
Grains
- Corn edges lower as weather forecasts ease fears of crop losses
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.3% at $4.88-1/2 per bushel (0016GMT)
- Most active corn futures down 0.1% at $4.31 per bushel
- Most active soy futures down 0.1% at $9.02-3/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $11.97 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Kenya central bank interest rate decision [fcst. 8.0%, prev. 9.0%]
- South Africa consumer inflation Jun-19 [fcst. 4.4% yy, prev. 4.5%]
- “25 years of democracy” conference at University of Johannesburg; 23-24 Jul
- Nigeria’s Buhari cabinet to be screened by Senate
- Public hearing by US International Trade Commission on US trade & investment with SSA report
- 9th session of Namibia-Zimbabwe joint commission in Windhoek; 22-24 Jul
- Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa in Namibia for state visit; 24-26 Jul
- Kenya’s Kenyatta expected to appoint new finance minister
- Policy dialogue by Nigeria’s ruling APC party (24-25 Jul); Buhari to preside
- South Africa’s Kganyago to give public lecture at UNISA
- South Africa’s Malema in Mpumalanga ahead of EFF 6th anniversary on 27 Jul
- Botswana’s Masisi in Kenya for 3-day state visit
- 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]
- Shi’ite protesters clash with Nigeria military, police in Abuja
- EgyptAir exec says no ‘logical reason’ for British Airways cancellations to Cairo
- EgyptAir executive says Cairo airport is safe
- Nigeria eyes partnership with Indonesia on crude exports
- Gambian army officer admits killing journalist, migrants
- Anglophone prisoners riot in Cameroon amid seperatist crisis
- Ethio Telecom revenues rise 7% to $1.26 bln in 2018/9
- South Sudan rebel group says it killed 8 soldiers
- Ethiopia federal forces take over security in protest-hit region – Fana
- Libya seizes Italian fishing vessel – Italy’s foreign ministry
- Nigeria’s central bank to start monthly review of banks’ loan ratios
- Africa Oil – Asian demand set to pick up on margins
- Kenya finmn denies corruption charges, given bail
- South Africa court blocks Zambian plan to sell Vedanta copper mine
- Nigeria’s Buhari submits list of cabinet nominees to Senate
- Lawmakers back plan to nationalise Kenya Airways
- Nigeria military, police clash with Shi’ite protesters in Abuja – witnesses
- South Sudan journalists’ union says 2 members detained
- Nigeria’s central bank holds benchmarking lending rate at 13.5%
- De La Rue says SFO probes ‘suspected corruption’ in business conduct in South Sudan
- Zambia presses on with liquidating Vedanta unit assets despite ruling
- Qatar Petroleum signs deal on 3 Kenya offshore blocks
- Tanzania president reinstates former state oil company chief
- South Africa expects lower tax revenues, higher borrowing this year – finmin
- Kenya shilling weakens after finmin charged with corruption
- Kenya to seek extradition of Italian construction boss on corruption charges
- Libya’s Mitiga airport re-opens after air strike – statement
- South Africa’s rand steady as investors eye likely US, eurozone rate cuts
- South Africa’s Kumba Iron Ore H1 earnings more than treble
- Morocco lawmakers vote to bolster French in education system
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
