The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Thursday.
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GLOBAL MARKETS Asian shares touched a 10-year high on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve expressed optimism about the economy, virtually cementing the case for a year-end rate hike as investors awaited the formal nomination of the next head of the central bank. MKTS/GLOB
WORLD OIL PRICES Oil prices held steady on Thursday as U.S. crude inventories fell despite a rise in production, while outside the United States an OPEC-led supply cut continued to tighten the market. O/R
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SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS South Africa's rand currency was firmer on Wednesday, boosted by positive economic data and a return of investors attracted by the low exchange rate and high bond yields ahead of an interest rate decision by the U.S. central bank. TREASURIES Nigeria raised 100.84 billion naira ($320.64 million) at a treasury bill auction on Wednesday as traders locked in yields in anticipation of higher liquidity from repayments. FOREX A draft law to ease a dollar shortage by restricting movement of hard currency in and out of Nigeria passed its second parliamentary reading on Wednesday. MARKETS Kenya's shilling KES= held steady on Wednesday and traders said they expected it to weaken slightly due to dollar demand from the manufacturing sector. MARKETS The Ugandan shilling UGX= was slightly weaker on Wednesday despite a central bank effort to remove excess local currency liquidity via a one-day repurchase agreement (repo). COCOA Ghana's cocobod has initiated reforms to clear its debts of up to 19.6 billion cedis ($4.45 bln) resulting from bloated contracts and wasteful expenditure by previous managers, the chief executive said on Wednesday. COAST COCOA Cocoa production in top grower Ivory Coast could fall by nearly half in the first quarter of next year because of disease that has wiped out a significant portion of pods, exporters said. ENERGY Tanzania's energy regulator raised the maximum price for petrol, diesel and kerosene on Wednesday to reflect higher crude prices and a weaker local currency, in a move likely to lift inflation. ECONOMY The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut its forecast for Rwanda's gross domestic product growth to 5.2 percent this year from 6.2 percent but projected a pick-up in 2018. PROTETS The U.S. embassy in Eritrea said it has received reports of gunfire in several parts of the capital, Asmara, after protests erupted in one of Africa's most secretive nations. SECURITY/CANADA Canada, under pressure from allies to boost its commitment to peacekeeping, will propose offering helicopters for use by U.N. forces in Mali and could later provide troops to work as trainers, two sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. SECURITY Niger has asked the United States to start using armed drones against jihadist groups operating on the Mali border, raising the stakes in a counterinsurgency campaign jolted by a deadly ambush of allied U.S.-Nigerien forces. YARA INTERNATIONAL Norwegian fertiliser maker Yara International YAR.OL is considering building a $2 billion plant in Mozambique and may seek partners to share the cost, the chief executive said. SUDAN MEDIA South Sudan's media regulator has suspended all press associations in the country while they register for licences to operate, journalists said, a move that raised concern about a possible crackdown on independent media. ELECTION Liberia's Supreme Court has halted preparations for next week's presidential run-off vote between former soccer star George Weah and Vice President Joseph Boakai until it considers a challenge to first round results by a losing candidate who alleged fraud. OIL Protesters have shut down 40,000 barrels per day from oilfields in the concession areas of German firm Wintershall WINT.UL in Libya, an engineer at the field and a statement from protesters said on Wednesday. SECURITY A suspected Islamist militant wounded two policemen with a knife near the parliament in Tunis on Wednesday and was later arrested, Tunisia's Interior Ministry said. PROTESTS A protester was killed in the town of Bosaso in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region on Wednesday after demonstrations broke out in opposition to a concession deal for the management of its port, residents said. ATTACKS/SOMALIA-AFGHANISTAN-NEWYORK Pope Francis condemned on Wednesday recent deadly attacks in Somalia, Afghanistan and New York, saying militants were abusing the name of God to justify their violence. the latest precious metals report click on GOL/
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