By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares up as ‘phase one’ trade deal boosts confidence
- MSCI Asia ex-Japan +0.27%
- Chinese, Japanese shares fall on profit taking, investor caution
- Investors welcome trade deal but await details
Oil Markets
- Oil prices fall but hold near 3-mth high on trade deal agreement
- Brent down 0.4% at $64.99 a barrel (0101GMT)
- WTI down 0.4% at $59.84
Precious metals
- Gold prices fall as easing trade worries lead to riskier bets
- Spot gold down 0.1% at $1,473.88/oz. (0050GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.2% at $1,478.60/oz.
Grains
- Soybeans jump 1% to hit 1-mth high on US-China trade deal
- Soybean futures up 0.9% at $9.15-3/4 a bushel (0127GMT)
- Corn futures up 1.3% at $3.85-3/4 a bushel
- Wheat futures up 0.7% at $5.36-1/2 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Anti-Barrow protests in The Gambia
- Public worker slowdown protest in Liberia over pay
- South Africa day of reconciliation; Ramaphosa speech in KZN
- South Africa’s EFF 2nd national people’s assembly; 13-16 Dec
- Ghana district assembly & unit committee elections (17 Dec) prep
- Nigeria inflation Nov-19 [fcst. 11.9% yy, prev. 11.6%]
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
- Militants kill 22 in eastern Congo despite claims of security progress
- Turkey to sign off on military pledge to Libya
- Zimbabwe vice president’s wife arrested for suspected fraud, money laundering
- Egypt central bank expands financing for distressed tourism companies
- Botswana bans hunters after killing of research elephant
- Namibia rhino poaching drops in 2019, after sharp rise last year
- Former Sudan president Bashir sentenced to 2 years in detention for corruption
- Botswana loss-making retailer Choppies to exit 3 more African countries
- Armed group claims killing 4 humanitarian hostages in Nigeria, aid organization says
- Morocco ex-diplomat to UN accused of visa fraud over workers
- Ethiopia to get $3 bln loan from World Bank
- Ex-premier elected Algerian president; thousands march in protest
- Algerian president-elect says to look at new constitution
- Africa Crude – Heavy sweet West African grades sell as VLSFO demand seen high
- Kenyan scientist builds with bottles to beat plastic pollution
- Renewables hit 90% of Kenyan power with new 50 MW solar plant
- Russia urges talks in Libya after commander Haftar calls on forces to advance – Ifax
- South Africa asks industry for options to end power crisis
- Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa says no going back to dollarisation
- Pirates release 3 oil tanker crew kidnapped off Togo
- First Quantum launches arbitration against Zambian state miner
- Ebola spreads in Congo after militants attack treatment camp – WHO
- Zambian holding company launches action involving First Quantum
- Nigeria LNG signs 20-yr gas supply agreement for Train 7
- Algeria declares former PM Tebboune winner of presidential election
- Kenya’s competition regulator approves Airtel Kenya, Telkom Kenya merger
- South Africa’s Northam agrees Booysendal platinum mine wage deal
- Mass protests expected as Algerian media call election a success
- Prime Minister Abiy says Ethiopia to get $3 bln funding from World Bank
- South Africa records smaller FDI inflows in 3rd quarter
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
