By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Bond yields near record lows, shares struggle on darkening global outlook
- Yields on US 30-yr bonds, 10-yr German bunds at record low
- Gold near 6-yr high, silver shines
- Stocks in Asia flat in early trade
Oil Markets
- Oil prices hold gains after US inventory drawdown
- Brent down 0.1% at $60.42 a barrel (0011GMT)
- WTI up 0.1% at $55.84 a barrel
Precious metals
- Gold prices rise on economic political turmoil
- Spot gold up 0.2% to $1,542.35/oz. (0142GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.1% at $1,550.50/oz.
Grains
- Corn firms, lingers near 1-wk high on weather outlook
- Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.1% at $4.75-3/4 per bushel (0045GMT)
- Most active corn futures up 0.7% at $3.73-3/4 per bushel
- Most active soy futures up 0.2% at $8.67-1/4 per bushel
- Most active rice futures unchanged at $11.65 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa producer inflation Jul-2019 [fcst. 5.6% yy, prev. 5.8%]
- 7th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (#TICAD7) in Yokohama, Japan; 28-30 Aug
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- At least 7 people die in flash floods in southern Morocco
- More than 50 abducted on attack on northwest Nigerian village – residents
- From Yemen to South Sudan, climate & water stress seen worsening conflict
- Nigeria closes part of border with Benin to check rice smuggling
- South Africa’s Aveng delays release of full-year results until Aug 29
- Africa – More people, less water? Scientists see risks on upper Nile
- Africa Oil – Angolan offers pared back
- South Africa’s rand dips as investors tread cautiously, stocks up
- South Africa’s Eskom may need more bailouts if funding plan fails
- Zambia opposition leader arrested, accused of defaming president – lawyer
- US gives Tunisia $335 mln in financial aid over 5 years
- Congo intelligence service orders audit of interim govt spending
- Tunisia’s Zbidi says he will amend constitution if elected president
- Kenya anti-graft body halts Telkom, Airtel merger to conduct probe
- Kenya shilling under pressure amid end-mth dollar demand
- Uganda rejects planned power plant at Murchison Falls
- South African drugstore Dis-Chem benefits from medicine price hike
- Uganda shilling unchanged amid thin trading volumes
- Russia state-controlled grain trader looks to sell grain to Egypt
- Kenya anti-graft body EACC suspends planned merger of Telkom Kenya, Airtel Kenya – spokesman
- South Africa’s Eskom may need more bailouts by end-March – Treasury
- Kenya’s Nation Media Group first-half profit falls 24%
- South Africa’s Adcock Ingram posts higher FY profit, unloads Ghana investment
- South Africa’s Bidcorp full-year profit rises 12.5%
- Noble Energy makes oil discovery off Equatorial Guinea – minister
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters