By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares advance on US-China trade progress, ECB easing
- Ex-Japan Asia MSCI up 0.3%, Nikkei gains 1.0%
- S&P 500 near record peak hit in late July
- Euro, bonds lose steam on profit-taking after ECB
Oil Markets
- Oil falls as spectre of US-China trade war haunts market
- Brent down 0.3% at $60.21 a barrel (0053GMT)
- WTI down 0.3% at $54.95 a barrel
Precious metals
- Gold treads water as trade optimism lifts risk assets
- Spot gold flat at $1,497.81/oz. (0105GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.1% at $1,505.50/oz.
Grains
- Soybeans dip, but set for biggest weekly gain in 3 mths
- Wheat futures unchanged at $4.83-3/4 per bushel (0017GMT)
- Corn futures down 0.1% at $3.67 per bushel
- Soy futures down 0.1% at $8.94-1/4 per bushel
- Rice futures down 0.2% at $12.16 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- ECOWAS summit; ministers meet today, presidents tomorrow
- 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]
- Nigeria plans VAT increase in push to raise non-oil revenue
- Tunisia’s exiled autocrat in hospital – lawyer
- De Beers Namibia diamond venture sells mine to local consortium
- 10 killed in stampede at Mozambique election rally
- Thousands demand justice for slain protesters in Sudan
- South Africa’s rand firms on ECB decision, trade hopes, stocks gain
- Kenya bans foreigners from adopting local children
- Africa Oil – Nigerian offers hold strong, Angolan weakening
- Zimbabwe – Mugabe’s family says burial to be private, in snub to successor
- Kenya targets officials’ overseas trips in “brutal” spending cuts
- Tanzania leader sacks spy chief ahead of polls
- Sudan PM visits South Sudan to back new peace roadmap with rebels
- South Africa’s Mr Price suspends 2 senior managers
- Up to 50 dead in Congo after train derails
- OPEC members Iraq, Nigeria agree to cut oil output
- Jailed Tunisia presidency frontrunner starts hunger strike
- Rare black rhinos relocated to Tanzania in Serengeti repopulation plan
- South Africa regulator fines Steinhoff for misleading markets
- Kenya to cut budget deficit to 4.8% of GDP in 2020/21
- Egypt’s Sisi selects new public prosecutor – sources
- Tanzania court adjourns case of prominent jailed journalist for 4th time
- Kenya’s finance minister pledges “brutal” spending cuts to rein in deficit
- Algeria looks into allowing foreign ownership in some sectors
- African telecoms firm Helios Towers revives London listing plans
- Detained mogul’s presidential run tests Tunisia’s democracy
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
