By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Japanese shares rally in final trades for the year
• Nikkei up 0.4%, gains YTD 18.8%; Topix up 0.4%
• Dollar ticks higher vs yen as confidence stays intact
• Markets remain in holiday mood; several still closed for Boxing Day

Oil Markets

• Oil rises, supported by trade deal, OPEC cuts
• Brent up 0.2% at $67.36 a barrel (0155GMT)
• WTI up 0.3% at $61.31

Precious metals

• Gold steady as markets await trade deal signing details
• Spot gold unchanged at $1,499.18/oz. (0132GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.1% at $1,503.10/oz.

Key African events or data releases today (25-26 Dec)
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]

• Egypt central bank MPC meeting; postponed to 16 Jan
• Eritrea’s Afwerki working visit to Ethiopa (25 Dec)
• Turkey’s Erdogan surprise visit to Tunisia on Libya (25 Dec)

Key African events or data releases previously (24-25 Dec) & early a.m today

• YEARENDER – From medicine to recycling, 6 African start-ups doing business for good in 2019
• Egypt’s current account deficit narrows, FDI up in July-Sept 2019
• Egypt’s central bank postpones policy meeting to Jan. 16
• Hundreds of thousands turn out to mourn Algeria’s powerful army chief
• Turkey-Libya maritime deal rattles East Mediterranean
• Turkey’s Erdogan discusses Libya ceasefire during surprise Tunisia trip
• Nigeria releases Sowore and Dasuki after AG orders bail
• 35 civilians killed in Burkina Faso after army repels militant attack
• After Ethiopia crash, victims’ relatives say they were hounded by US law firms
• Turkish parliament readying bill to allow sendin troops to Libya
• Nigeria’s NNPC to raise Chevron-operated GTL plant stake to 60%
• Botswana court dismisses challenge to October election result
• Tanzania charges rights activist with economic crimes
• Eritrean soccer players go missing in Uganda again
• Russia’s Zarubezhneft says joins 2 offshore oil blocks in Egypt
• Algerian students still pushing for change after general’s death
• Africa Oil – Margins recover, spot trade muted
• Kenyan shilling firm ahead of holiday season
• South Africa’s Bidvest to acquire British-based PHS Group
• Rhino poaching at record levels in Botswana
• Vietnam seizes two tonnes of ivory, pangolin scales
• Flushed with fear: South Africa’s sewage system collapse a ‘time bomb’

N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters