By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian stocks shaky before Powell’s speech as growth woes weigh
• Traders await Fed chair Powell’s Jackson Hole speech
• Yuan remains at over decade-lows vs dlr, fans trade worries
• Sterling jumps as traders cling to Merkel’s backstop comments
• Better than expected European manufacturing PMIs are little help

Oil Markets

• Oil prices eke out small gains ahead of Fed chair speech
• Oil prices on track for 2^nd weekly gain
• Brent up 10 cents at $60.02 a barrel (0118GMT)
• WTI up 3 cents at $55.38

 
Grains

• Corn set for second straight weekly loss
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.1% at $4.72 per bushel (0034GMT)
• Most active corn futures unchanged at $3.71 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.2% at $8.70-1/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures up 0.2% at $11.20 per hundredweight

Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]

• Kenya population census; 24-25 Aug (continues for 7 days)
• Nigeria banking sector statistics expected

Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]

• Algeria – Five people killed in stampede at Algiers rap concert
• WHO says eradicating malaria “can be done”, but first aim is to control it
• US EXIM Bank seeks vote on $5 bln loan to Mozambique LNG project
• Leader of Somalia’s Jubbaland, at odds with Mogadishu, wins new term
• Egypt’s central bank cuts rates by 150 bps after inflation slows
• Zimbabwe arrests senior opposition official over demonstration
• Tunisia PM delegates his powers to focus on presidential race
• Somalia president replaces security chiefs and Mogadishu mayor
• Algeria court detains former justice minister over alleged corruption
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa calls for discussion on utilising pension funds for projects
• South Africa rand gains fade as investors left on edge over Fed
• Mali’s new mining code ends tax exemptions, shortens regulatory stability
• Africa Oil – Angolan heavier sweet oil offered at high prices
• South Sudan makes minor oil discovery, first since independence
• Zambia determined to find another investor for Konkola mine – mines minister
• Moody’s sees budget cuts as option for South Africa to absorb Eskom costs
• Rosneft signs memorandum to develop offshore gas fields in Mozambique – ifax
• Uganda demands financial records, donor lists of NGOs
• West African oil hits sweet spot as shipping upgrades to cleaner fuel
• Egypt raises Sinai investment by 75% in 2019-20
• President of Somali state of Jubbaland re-elected in divisive vote
• South Africa’s Exxaro buoyed by equity investments as core profit falls
• No pot of gold for locals as China mines Sierra Leone
• South Africa – Budget retailer Mr Price posts lower comparable sales

N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters