By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asian shares open weaker after Fed
- Nikkei flat, Hang Seng down 0.15%
- BoJ keeps policy steady
- Brent down 0.8% at $41.86
- Gold down 1.1% at $1,938.12
Oil Markets
- Oil falls as demand worries re-emerge, crews return to US Gulf rigs
- Brent down 0.8% at $41.86 a barrel (0355GMT)
- WTI down 1.1% at $39.73
Precious metals
- Gold drops 1% as dollar rises after Fed’s upbeat economic view
- Spot gold down 1.1% at $1,938.12/oz. (0321GMT)
- US gold futures down 1% at $1,951.30/oz.
Grains
- Soybeans hit over 27-mth high on Chinese demand
- Soybean futures up 0.6% at $10.17-1/2 a bushel (0134GMT)
- Corn down 0.1% at $3.71-1/2 a bushel
- Wheat down 0.1% at $5.41-1/2 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- South Africa’s SARB decides on interest rates [fcst. 3.5%, prev. 3.5%]
- Kenya counties shut down over revenue allocation standoff
- South Africa ministerial briefings on ease of Covid-19 restrictions expected
- Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
- Ghana’s economy contracts for the first time in 37 years
- Head of Libya’s Tripoli govt says he wants to quit
- Egypt cuts highways across pyramids plateau, alarming conservationists
- South Sudan president replaces finance minister, state TV reports
- Covid-19 graft scandals fuel South Africans’ anger with ruling ANC
- South Africa to open up for international travel from Oct.1, says President
- Kenya county govts shut down services in dispute over revenue-sharing scheme
- Mali junta moves toward selecting interim president after embargo threat
- ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero could face maximum life in prison, prosecution says
- West Africa bloc fails to reach agreement with Mali junta
- More than 50 prisoners starve to death in east Congo prison
- South Africa’s Discovery reports 94% drop in full-year profit
- Mozambique army condemns ‘horrifying’ shooting of naked woman at hands of fighters
- Algeria upholds conviction of journalist; rights group fear new crackdown
- UN chief to appoint special envoy to broker peace in Libya
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters