By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares edge up before ECB decision, euro near 2-mth lows
- Nikkei, Australian shares hit multi-month highs
- China shares rise on trade talk hopes
- Euro near 2-mth lows after weak eurozone PMI
- Market focus on ECB rate decision later in the day
Oil Markets
- Oil steadies after global demand worries spark fall
- Brent up 6 cents at $63.24 a barrel (0053GMT)
- WTI up 12 cents at $55.99
Precious metals
- Gold prices ease amid firmer dollar; markets eye ECB meet
- Spot gold down 0.2% at $1,422.31 per ounce (0120GMT)
- US gold futures steady at $1,423.50 an ounce
Grains
- Wheat edges lower, global production concerns limit losses
- Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.3% at $4.96-1/4 per bushel (0107GMT)
- Most active corn futures down about 0.1% at $4.30-1/2 per bushel
- Most active soy futures nearly unchanged at $9.08-1/2 per bushel
- Most active rice futures up 0.2% at $12.06 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Kenya central bank governor Njoroge post-MPC briefing
- South Africa deputy president Mabuza to answer questions in parliament
- Kenya’s Kenyatta to launch Bidco Industrial Park in Ruiru, Kiambu county
- 23rd EAC monetary affairs sub-committee meeting in Kigali; 24-28 Jul
- South Africa producer inflation Jun-19 [fcst. 5.9% yy, prev. 6.4%]
- Nigeria’s Buhari cabinet screening by Senate; day 2
- Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa in Namibia for state visit; 24-26 Jul
- Policy dialogue by Nigeria’s ruling APC party (24-25 Jul); day 2
- South Africa’s Malema in Mpumalanga ahead of EFF 6th anniversary on 27 Jul
- 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]
- Tunisia president hospitalized after health scare – president’s son
- Nigeria state oil firm has not paid Eni’s cash call payments for 3 months
- MTN shakes up Nigeria board, appoints ex-telecoms regulatory chief as next chair
- Namibia plans to add 220MW to electricity grid by 2023
- Sudan military says it thwarts coup attempt, arrests senior officers
- Algeria’s state power firm to seek foreign loans to fund projects
- Suicide attack kills six at Mogadishu govt HQ – official
- Sudan military says it thwarts coup attempt, arrests senior officers
- IMF to disburse final $2 bln tranche of Egypt loan – cbank
- Africa Oil – Glut of light sweet crude lowers Nigerian prompt prices
- China firms to build gold smelter, refineries in Tanzania
- Zimbabwe cbank eases forex rules for some in bid to improve dollar flows
- South African rand firmer as markets eye ECB, Fed meetings
- Mayor of Mogadishu, other officals hurt in Somalia suicide blast – relative
- Negative yields see record euro borrowing from EMs
- World Bank readies $300 mln to cover half of new ebola response
- Google goes Nigerian with local content, ‘informal’ transit routes
- Kenya central bank holds main lending rate at 9.0 pct
- Kenya appoints Yatani acting finmin after Rotich graft charges
- South Africa’s Sanlam appoints finance director as CEO of Sanlam Emerging Markets
- South Africa’s Kganyago calls central bank ownership debate ‘damaging’
- Uganda shilling unchanged as interbank and importer appetite ebbs
- UK Supreme Court to hear Nigerians’ case for pursuing Shell spill claim in England
- South Africa’s June inflation flat at 4.5%, bolstering case for rate cuts
- Kenya shilling holds steady against dollar
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
