By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji
Global Markets
- Asian stocks pulled higher by Wall St jobs rally but China caution prevails
- US job data shows unexpected strength, calms recession fears
- China Nov exports fall; import growth may signal demand recovery
- Oil near multi-month high as OPEC+ agrees on deeper output cuts
Oil Markets
- Oil prices stumble on weak China exports hangover
- Brent down 0.5% at $64.06 a barrel (0055GMT)
- WTI down 0.6% at $58.85
Precious metals
- Gold rises as prospects of US tariffs lift safe-haven demand
- Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,460.40/oz. (0158GMT)
- US gold futures flat at $1,464.90/oz.
Grains
- Soybeans rise for 5th day on tariff waivers by China
- Soybean futures up 0.4% at $8.93-1/4 a bushel (0132GMT)
- Corn futures up 0.3% at $3.77-3/4 a bushel
- Wheat futures down 0.2% at $5.23-1/4 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- 9th African, Carribean & Pacific Group of States (ACP) summit in Nairobi, Kenya; 9-10 Dec
- Ethiopia’s Abiy heads to Oslo to receive Nobel Peace Prize
- Kusi ideas festival: “The next 60 years in Africa” in Kigali; 8-9 Dec
- Nigeria’s Osinbajo due in UAE, to meet Abu Dhabi Crown Prince
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]
- Sudan says it has reduced troops in Yemen to 5,000
- South African Airways rescue aimed at saving jobs – minister
- Congo authorities say ebola survivor falls ill a second time
- 4 dead after rock collapse at South African gold mine
- Egypt’s fuel subsidy bill drops by 69% year on year July – Sept – minister
- Kenya police officers among 8 killed in bus attack
- Algerian protesters march in last Friday rally before election
- Mauritanian coast guard intercepts boat carrying 180 migrants – IOM
- Nigeria files fraud charge in bid to overturn nearly $10 bln penalty
- Africa Oil – Buyers await Nigerian discounts as gasoline cracks slip
- President of South African agricultural lobby group resigns
- South Africa’s power cuts may last the weekend if rain persists
- 2 Tunisian parties reject coalition role
- Kenya arrests gold-loving Nairobi governor on suspicion of corruption
- Nigeria activist Sowore re-arrested hours after has was freed – lawyer
- Turkey says Greek expulsion of Libyan envoy is ‘outrageous’
- South African Airways to restructure under ‘business rescue’
- South Africa’s Eskom tells customers about more power cuts
- Uganda shilling holds steady against the dollar
- Greece to expel Libyan ambassador over Turkey-Libya accord
- IMF approves $247 mln reform loan to Angola
- Kenyan shilling extends gains, helped by offshore investor flows
- Sime Darby to sell Liberia plantation to local manufacturer
- Kenya public prosecutor orders arrest of Nairobi governor on suspicion of economic crimes
- South Africa’s net foreign reserves fall to $44.4 bln in Nov
- Burundi ruling party militia forcing citizens to fund 2020 vote – rights group
- Power cuts to continue in South Africa as Eskom units perform at low levels
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters