By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Stocks close in on record highs on US-China trade deal hopes
- MSCI’s global gauge near record 2018 peak
- Beijing says US, China agree to cancel tariffs in phases
- Sources say the plan meets opposition within White House
- Bond yields soar
Oil Markets
- Oil drops on doubts US-China trade deal will be signed soon, rising US stockpiles
- Brent down 11 cents at $62.18 a barrel
- WTI down 22 cents at $56.93
Precious metals
- Gold a tad firmer at $1,468.78/oz.
- Hit 5-week low of $1,460.7/oz. on Thursday
Grains
- Soybeans set for weekly loss as US-China trade deal unsigned
- Soybean futures down nearly 0.5% for the week
- Corn futures down more than 3% for the week
- Wheat futures down 0.5% for the week
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Results of Mauritius general election expected
- Africa oil week; 4-8 Nov
- Week-long celebrations in South Africa; after Rugby World Cup win
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Africa must quadruple power investment to supply electricity for all, IEA says
- Australia’s Perenti says 19 of its employees killed in Burkina Faso attack
- South Africa’s Eskom warns of more power cuts on Thursday
- Tunisia’s main parties refuse new government led by moderate Islamists
- US imposes sanctions on leader of Mali Islamist militant group
- War crimes judges jail Congolese warlord Ntaganda for 30 years
- Africa Oil – Sellers of Nigerian crude raise offer levels
- Sudan president, ex-rebel leader agree to delay unity govt – Uganda
- South Africa’s rand boosted by US-China trade deal hopes, stocks inch up
- Rivals promise better wealth distribution as Mauritius votes
- DRC – Glencore strikes deal with Katanga over $5.8 bln rights issue
- African pay-TV group Multichoice forecasts profit rise
- South Africa sees new Saudi-backed $10 bln refinery onstream by 2028
- South Africa manufacturing, business confidence falls take shine off investment drive
- Africa FX – Bank stock investors seen supporting Kenyan shilling
- Axian, ECP to acquire majority stake in Togo state telco
- Kenya’s president finalises removal of rate cap for banks
- South African retailer TFG’s H1 profits up 3%
- Congo disputes Canadian miner Banro’s suspension of operations
- South Africa’s manufacturing down 2.4% y/y in September
- Congo Republic: Kosmos, Eni-Lukoil consortium succeed in 2018/19 round
- Angola to name licensing winners in April, new round in Jan – ANPG official
- Senegal’s new energy bid process to ensure transparency – state firm
- Hamstrung Zimbabwe miners call to keep export earnings in dollars
- Uganda shilling holds steady against the dollar
- South Africa business confidence dips in Oct. as blackouts unnerve investors
- Saipem wins $100 mln Equatorial Guinea pipeline contract
- Court postpones hearing for 7th time for Tanzanian journalist jailed since July
- South African drugstore Dis-Chem half year profits fall
- South Africa’s net foreign reserves rise to $44.6 bln in Oct
- Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan to try to resolve dam dispute by Jan. 15 – Treasury
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters