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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EVENTS:
KENYA - Central bank governor holds a news conference to
expound on July 24 rate decision. Policymakers held the
bank's benchmark lending rate at 9.0% on Wednesday.
GLOBAL MARKETS
Asian shares rose but struck a more cautious note than a
tech-fuelled rally on Wall Street, while the euro stayed
near two-month lows as soft economic data fuelled hopes the
European Central Bank could cut rates at its meeting on
Thursday. MKTS/GLOB
WORLD OIL PRICES
Oil prices edged higher on Thursday amid lingering Middle
East tensions and after U.S. crude stocks dropped more than
expected, but gains were stemmed by a fragile demand outlook
amid more signs of slowing global economic
growth. O/R
EMERGING MARKETS
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STOCKS
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SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS
South Africa's rand rose on Wednesday as investors looked to
possible monetary easing steps at upcoming European and U.S.
central bank meetings. OIL
Nigeria's state oil firm said on Wednesday it had suspended
cash call repayments to Eni ENI.MI for three months and
did not plan to renew some of the Italian firm's asset
licenses. TELECOMS
MTN Nigeria MTNN.LG has appointed former telecoms
regulatory chief Ernest Ndukwe as chairman-designate in a
board shake-up following its debut stock market listing on
the Nigerian bourse. ALPHABET
Commuters making their way through Nigeria can now hear
travel advice in a local voice on Google Maps under new
features aimed at attracting more users in Africa that were
unveiled by the company on Wednesday. CORRUPTION
Kenya's presidency appointed Labour Minister Ukur Yatani as
acting finance minister on Wednesday, a day after incumbent
Henry Rotich was charged with corruption. RATES
Kenya's central bank held its benchmark lending rate
KECBIR=ECI at 9.0% on Wednesday, with the monetary policy
committee saying inflation expectations were within the
target range and the economy was operating close to its
potential. MARKETS
Kenya's shilling KES= was steady against the dollar on
Wednesday in slow trade, taking a pause after two straight
sessions of weakening caused by concerns about the impact of
graft. ECONOMY
Oil firms, chrome miners, embassies and international
organisations in Zimbabwe can use foreign currencies for
local transactions, the central bank said, easing rules for
some sectors in a bid to boost the flow of dollars in the
economy.
SECURITY
A suicide bombing at municipal government headquarters in
the Somali capital Mogadishu on Wednesday killed six people
including district commissioners and local government
chiefs, the country's information minister said. For the latest precious metals report click on GOL/
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