By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asia looks to safer shores in US assets as virus spreads
- Dollar scales 3-yr peak, sovereign bonds in demand
- Markets spooked as virus spreads outside China
- Nikkei dips even as yen’s slide aids exporters
- Gold reaches a 7-yr peak; watching flash PMIs
Oil Markets
- Oil prices slide as coronavirus spread beyond China raises demand worries
- Brent down 0.4% at $59.07 a barrel (0155GMT)
- WTI down 0.5% at $53.63
Precious metals
- Gold steady near 7-yr peak as persistent virus fears dampen China stimulus
- Spot gold little changed at $1,619.33/oz. (0108GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.1% at $1,622.60/oz.
Grains
- Wheat edges higher, set for biggest weekly gain in almost 3 mths
- Wheat futures up more than 3% so far this week
- Soybean futures little changed for the week
- Corn futures up slightly for the week, after losing 1.5% last week
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- South Africa armed forces day; Ramaphosa to officiate
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
- Togo presidential election; 22 Feb
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
- Algeria leader warns against attempts to incite protesters to violence
- Libya’s NOC oil output at 122,424 bpd as of Feb. 20
- Nigeria asks US to remove it from visa restriction list
- Sudan security forces crack down on protest over dismissed officers
- Egypt’s central bank keeps overnight interest rates steady
- Ethiopia gets back Christian crown spirited away to Rotterdam decades ago
- Africa Oil – Nigerian programmes trickle out
- Morocco ready for next step in dirham float process, says finance minister
- Zambia police arrest 16 suspects after chemical attacks
- South Sudan to form unity govt by Saturday deadline
- Kenya’s Absa Bank says virtual banking app used by almost 5 mln customers
- South Africa’s rand weakens on strong US dollar; stocks down
- Namibia to repeal two tax policies, partly to appease EU
- Court voids conviction of Ugandan academic known for crude attacks on president
- Top worry for young Africans? Jobs and corruption – but green anxieties grow
- Togo’s president seeks re-election to extend 50-yr dynasty
- Lesotho PM faces charge of murdering first wife, says to step down
- Ivory Coast to issue $380 mln eurobond this year – PM
- Angola’s Isabel dos Santos says repaid bulk of loans to Portuguese banks
- Uganda shilling trades flat on sluggish appetite
- Kenya police killings in poor Nairobi districts continue – rights group
- South African miner Exxaro to sell Leeuwpan and Exxaro Coal Central
- Malawi maize output to climb 8.8% as rains return
- Kenya shilling under pressure from end-mth dollar demand
- Namibia first African country to export red meat to hungry US market
- Russia: oil producers agree no need to hold early OPEC+ meeting
- Womenswear mistakes, poor Black Friday dent South Africa’s Woolworths’ half-year profit
- Investors in South Africa’s Discovery soothed on spending, shares rise 7%
- Egyptair to resume flights to China from next week – statement
- Algeria ready to mediate in Libya ceasefire talks – president to paper
- Kenya to issue 150 bln shillings roads bond by June – report
- South Africa’s Discovery reports 10% drop in profit
- South Africa’s Truworths post marginal rise in profit
- South Africa’s Woolworth HY earnings fall 17.7%
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
