By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares recover from 3-wk lows but trade deal worries limit gains
- MSCI Asia ex-Japan +0.12%; Nikkei +0.43%
- Chinese blue-chips turn lower after early gains
- Trump expected to sign bill backing Hong Kong protesters into law
Oil Markets
- Oil falls from 2-mth high as US-China trade doubts dominate
- Brent down 0.5% at $63.67 a barrel (0159GMT)
- WTI down 0.6% at $58.24
Precious metals
- Gold steady amid mixed signals on US-China trade talks
- Spot gold flat at $1,464.99 per ounce (0106GMT)
- US gold futures up about 0.1% at $1,464.30/oz.
Grains
- Soybeans set for third weekly decline on US-China trade woes
- Wheat futures up about 0.1% at $5.12-1/4 per bushel (0154GMT)
- Corn futures down 0.1% at $3.68-1/4 per bushel
- Soy futures unchanged at $9.01 per bushel
- Rice futures unchanged at $12.25 per hundredweight
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Nigeria Q3 2019 GDP [fcst. 1.0% yy, prev. 1.9%]
- S&P to review South Africa credit rating
- Bank of Ghana MPC meeting; day 3, decision on Monday
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Algerians march again as protests step up before vote
- US warns Egypt against Russia warplanes deal, says working with Cairo on defense needs
- Nigeria’s excess crude account held $325 mln on Nov 20 – accountant general
- Bond fund exodus from South Africa well underway as credit rating teeters
- Ethiopia’s ruling coalition agrees to form single party ahead of 2020 vote
- Egypt to send its first communication satellite into orbit on Friday
- Zimbabwe scraps import controls on maize, wheat flour after drought
- EU worried about recent political developments in Zimbabwe – memo
- South African rand firms as central bank keeps rates on hold
- Africa Oil – Nigerian official selling prices published, lag asking prices
- Mobile warnings set to aid climate-vulnerable Somali nomads
- South Africa keeps rates on hold at 6.5% as inflation risks balanced
- Presidential election in chaotic Guinea-Bissau could resolve political impasse
- 2 toddlers among 73 migrants plucked from drifting dinghy off Libya
- Africa FX Week Ahead: Kenyan & Tanzanian currencies seen firm, Uganda’s stable & Zambia’s weak
- Algeria plans sharp cut in wheat purchases to curb import bill
- Unions in wage talks with distressed South African Airways
- South African Airways suspends flights to Hong Kong to curb losses
- South African union files court case to force SAA rescue
- Union says continuing wage talks with South African Airways
- Unfinished business in the birthplace of Sudan’s revolution
- De Beers Namibian diamond venture seeks tax breaks to extend operations
- ANC lawmaker arrested on corruption charge – South Africa police
- Kenyan shilling surges against the dollar
- Anglo-South African Investec reports 17% fall in H1 profit
- South Africa’s Mr Price H1 profit drops 10% as clothing unit lags
- South Africa’s Life Healthcare plans Poland exit, sees upbeat H1 2020
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters