By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian shares rise on China’s policy easing, trade deal hopes
- MSCI Asia ex-Japan +0.35%
- China blue-chips jump after PBOC announces RRR cut
- Trump says Phase 1 trade deal to be signed Jan. 15.
Oil Markets
- Oil climbs on US-China trade optimism, Middle East tensions
- Brent to hold near $63 in 2020, WTI around $57 – poll
- US crude stocks fell by 7.8 mln bbls last week – API
- Brent up 0.3% at $66.21 a barrel (0130GMT)
- WTI up 0.3% at $61.27
Precious metals
- Gold prices edge higher on soft dollar
- Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,518.60/oz. (0043GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.1% at $1,521.60/oz.
Grains (31 Dec)
- US grain futures notch yearly rises on China demand hopes
- Soybean futures ended up 3 cents at $9.55-1/2 a bushel; up 6.8% for 2019
- Wheat futures up 2-3/4 cents at $5.58-3/4 a bushel; up 11% for 2019
- Corn slipped ½ cent to $3.87-3/4 a bushel; up 3.4% for 2019
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- South Africa ABSA manufacturing PMI Dec-19 [prev. 47.7]
Key African events or data releases yesterday (31 Dec – 1 Jan) & early a.m today
- Ex-Guinea Bissau PM Embalo wins presidency; opponent disputes vote
- Tunisia’s designated PM says he has formed a govt
- More than 20 dead, many displaced after violence in Sudan’s West Darfur
- Turkey may not send forces to Libya if conflict eases
- Loser in Guinea Bissau election cries foul, will contest result in court
- New Year brings hope, grief to Somali family devastated by bomb blast
- Angola hits ‘Princess’ dos Santos with asset freeze
- Arab League warns against deployment of foreign fighters in Libya
- Egypt’s Stock Exchange targets IPOs of 3-4 private companies in 2020
- Egypt’s M2 money supply up 13.16% y/y in November – c.bank
- South Africa’s rand weathers risks to end 2019 higher, stocks down
- Kenya’s economy expanded 5.1% y/y in Q3 2019
- Ivory Coast street militia leader sentenced to 20 years for role in civil war
- Kenya shilling trades steady on remittance flows
- Kenyan inflation rises to 5.82% y/y in December, stats office says
- Africa Oil – Angolan differentials steady
- Seychelles’ y/y GDP growth slows to 3.8% in Q3 2019 – stats office
- Kenya’s y/y GDP growth slows to 3.8% in Q3 2019 – stats office
- South Africa’s credit growth slows to 6.6% y/y in Nov
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
