By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asia shares lurch lower, China flu risks mount
- Nikkei and S&P 500 futures slip on safe-haven shift
- Some point to economic risks around China flu outbreak
- Markets await BoJ meeting, Trump speech at Davos
Oil Markets
- Oil prices ease as supply risk concerns fade
- Brent down 0.5% at $64.90 per barrel (0318GMT)
- WTI down 0.2% at $58.40
Precious metals
- Gold hits 2-wk high on safe-haven demand
- Spot gold up 0.3% at $1,565.36/oz. (0147GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.4% at $1,566/oz.
Grains
- Corn falls as traders take profits after biggest daily gain in 3 mths
- Corn futures down 0.5% at $3.87-1/4 a bushel (0124GMT)
- Soybean futures little changed at $9.29-1/4 a bushel
- Wheat futures down 0.2% at $5.69-1/4 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- World Economic Forum in Davos; 21-24 Jan
- Nigeria’s EFCC arraigns former attorney general Adoke on alleged Malabu oil scam
- ODI’s “Increasing UK investment in Africa” event in London
- Ivory Coast’s Ouattara expected at Chatham House event in London
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
- Portugal probes Angola leaks as Eurobic bank distances itself from dos Santos
- Oil rises as Libya declares force majeure in oilfields
- Tunisian president chooses former finance minister to be PM
- Ivory Coast clears homes around airport after child stowaway’s death
- Prince Harry meets African leaders in London
- Savannah Petroleum says Nigerian gas purchase is just the start
- ‘Let us in!’ African women entrepreneurs implore investors at UK business event
- Africa Oil – Programmes emerge, trade slow as market weighs Libya outage
- Sudanese pound falls to record low on black market
- UN says militants targeted aid worker hub in northern Nigeria
- EU agrees to consider ways to support formal Libya truce
- South African rand falls on domestic woes as stock rally ends
- South African chrome firms warn of more than 1,200 job cuts
- Egypt sovereign fund bringing in Actis to help attract investment
- Libya’s NOC declares force majeure on Sharara, El Feel oilfields – document
- Eni confirms production at Libya’s El Feel oilfield partially reduced
- Egypt’s debt ratio to beat target this year, minister says
- IMF lowers South African growth forecasts for 2020, 2021
- UN says militants targeted aid worker hub in northern Nigeria
- Son of Burkina Faso gold miner owner released after year-long captivity
- Erdogan says Somalia has invited Turkey to explore for oil in its seas – NTV
- Erdogan says Turkey not yet sent troops to Libya, only advisers – NTV
- Next OPEC+ meeting scheduled for March – RIA cites OPEC’s Barkindo
- Nigerian artist makes dark skin prosthetics to boost patients’ confidence
- As Brexit nears, UK’s Johnson pushes for deeper trade ties with Africa
- South African Airways says flights operating normally after bailout talks stall
- Egypt primary surplus at 30 bln EGP in H1 FY 19/20
- In Zimbabwe, a backyard hydroponic farm beats drought to grow veg
- Ivory Coast 2019/20 cocoa arrivals reach 1.296 mln T by Jan. 19 – exporters
- South African Airways says flights operating as normal
- EM stocks, currencies flat ahead of key central bank meetings
- Glencore, Merafe could cut up to 665 jobs at South African smelter
- Pipeline fire kills three in Lagos – Reuters witness
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters