African Markets - Factors to watch on Dec. 23

NAIROBI, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The following company announcements, scheduled economic
indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on
Wednesday.
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GLOBAL MARKETS
U.S. stock futures fell, commodities slipped and Treasuries
edged higher on Wednesday after Donald Trump threw a
last-minute spanner in to pandemic relief plans by threatening
not to sign a long-awaited stimulus bill in to
law. MKTS/GLOB

WORLD OIL PRICES
Oil fell in early trade on Wednesday after industry data showed
U.S. crude oil stocks rose last week, defying expectations for
a decline, and U.S. President Donald Trump rattled markets by
threatening not to sign a long-awaited COVID-19 relief
bill. O/R

EMERGING MARKETS
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For the latest news on African stocks, click on .J

SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS
The rand inched down again on Tuesday as concerns over the
spread of a new variant of the coronavirus chilled demand for
the South African currency. MARKETS
The Kenyan shilling KES= gained ground on Tuesday due to
commercial banks selling dollars, and reduced demand as
companies close for the holiday season, traders
said. L8N2J20YH

KENYA ECONOMY
Kenya's parliament on Tuesday voted to end tax cuts put in
place in April to cushion the economy from the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic, a move lawmakers said would help to plug
revenue shortfalls but investors said would hamper a
recovery. MARKETS
Nigerian stocks climbed to a new 2-1/2 year high on Tuesday,
extending gains for the seventh session after its biggest
listed firm, Dangote Cement DANGCEM.LG , on Monday announced
plans to buy back some of its shares this month. CONFLICT
The United Nations is striving to get a team on the ground to
investigate alleged human rights violations including a mass
killing in Ethiopia's Tigray, described by the U.N. rights
chief as one of many "appalling" human rights abuses that could
amount to war crimes. AFRICAN REPUBLIC ELECTION
Russia has sent 300 military instructors to the Central African
Republic at the request of the country's leadership to help
counter a surge in rebel violence ahead of Sunday's election,
Russia's foreign ministry said on Tuesday. REPUBLIC MINING
Congo Republic has cancelled iron ore projects with three
Australian miners, two of the companies said, and handed them
to a firm "nobody knows anything about", prompting one to seek
$8.76 billion in damages from the central African
nation. REPUBLIC OF CONGO CORONAVIRUS
As the world embarks on an unprecedented campaign to bring
ultra-cold COVID-19 vaccines to billions in remote areas,
Democratic Republic of Congo's experience holds vital lessons
in distributing the vaccine and gaining the trust of those
receiving it. For the latest precious metals report click on GOL/
For the latest base metals report click on MET/L
For the latest crude oil report click on O/L