By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asia stocks bounce, oil slips as Iran anxiety ebbs
- Nikkei rallies 1.3% as Mideast risks reconsidered
- Oil retreats on doubts Iran would disrupt supplies
- Safe havens pull back with yen and gold easing
Oil Markets
- Oil dips as markets await Iran response to US killing of military commander
- Iran more likely to focus on US military targets – Eurasia
- Dec OPEC output falls by 50,000 bpd – survey
- US crude stocks likely to drop 4th week in a row – poll
- Brent down 44 cents at $68.47 a barrel (0200GMT)
- WTI down 41 cents at $62.86
Precious metals
- Gold slips from near 7-yr high as US-Iran tensions ease
- Spot gold down 0.2% at $1,562.81/oz. (0107GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.2% at $1,566/oz.
Grains
- Soybeans gain for 2nd day on hopes of higher Chinese demand
- Soybean futures up 0.2% at $9.46-1/4 a bushel (0138GMT)
- Corn futures little changed at $3.85 a bushel
- Wheat futures little changed at $5.50-1/4 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Ghana’s Constitution Day; public holiday
- Kenya’s controversial lawyer Miguna expected back in Nairobi; after court orders govt to allow his entry
- South Africa’s 2019 national senior certificate (“matric”) results to be announced
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
- Ivory Coast president plans constitutional revision before election
- Russia’s VTB sues Mozambique state firm at centre of $2 bln debt scandal
- 30 killed in northeast Nigeria bombl blast on crowded bridge
- Kenya arrests 3 men for trying to breach British army camp
- UN Libya envoy blames deadly military academy strike on Haftar ally
- Libyan commander Haftar’s forces say they have taken Sirte
- US bolsters Kenya base security after Americans killed in attack
- UN special representative for Libya to other countries: ‘Keep out’
- Somalian parliament approves new petroleum law – minister
- Zimbabe vice president’s wife freed on bail after attempted murder charge
- Africa Oil – Angolan cargoes linger as demand remains slack
- South Africa’s rand edges up after slump on Iran-US tensions
- Tanzania’s gold export earnings up 42% in year to November – central bank
- Egypt shuts 2 Mediterranean ports because of bad weather
- OPEC December oil output slips as Nigeria, Iraq comply more
- Ugandan shilling weakens due to increased dollar demand from banks
- Egypt sells $865 mln in 1-yr t-bills at average yield of 3.54%
- Uganda police disperse Bobi Wine supporters with tear gas
- South Africa power shake-up looms as ailing Eskom welcomes new CEO
- Ghana’s 2019/20 cocoa arrivals reach 456,000 T by Dec. 19 – Cocobod
- Ivory Coast 2019/20 cocoa arrivals 1,153,000 T by Jan. 5 – exporters’ estimates
- Kenya plans to refinance or exchange commercial debt with cheaper options
- Years of drought threaten South Africa’s wildlife industry
- Zimbabwe’s CBZ bank issues bonds under scheme to raise funds for maize, soy farming
- Ailing Eskom’s new CEO takes helm with power shake-up on agenda
- Kenyan shilling holds steady against the dollar
- Kenya police arrest 3 for trying to breach British army camp
- Kenya private sector activity up slightly in December – PMI
- South Africa’s Absa appoints former central bank deputy governor as CEO
- South African private sector shrinks for 8th straight month in Dec – PMI
- South Africa’s rand weakens as power cuts resume, Mideast tensions escalate
- Contraction in Egypt’s non-oil private sector activity slows slightly – PMI
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters