GLOBAL MARKETS

Asian stocks bucked the global trend to extend a rally on Thursday, fuelled by persistent optimism over China's aggressive stimulus package, although there were signs some of that enthusiasm was starting to ebb.

MKTS/GLOB

WORLD OIL PRICES

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday after falling in the previous session, as signs of firmer fuel demand and falling inventories in the U.S., the world's top crude oil consumer, outweighed worries over global demandprospects.

O/R

EMERGING MARKETS

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AFRICA STOCKS

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SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS

South Africa's rand extended its recent rally on Wednesday, strengthening to a fresh 20-month high against the dollar.

KENYA MARKETS

Kenya's shilling was steady against the dollar on Wednesday, helped by companies converting foreign currency ahead of quarterly tax payments, traders said.

KENYA EMIRATES

Kenya's government is close to agreeing a $1.5 billion loan from the United Arab Emirates with an interest rate of 8.2% which will help bridge the East African nation's financing gap, a source familiar with the situation told Reuters.

SUDAN POLITICS

Pregnant women, mothers and newborn babies are dying at a shocking rate in Sudan's South Darfur region and thousands of malnourished children are on the brink of starvation, medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said on Wednesday.

TANZANIA POLITICS

Tanzania's main opposition party has called for telecoms firm Tigo to respond to a former employee's accusation that the company helped the government track the location of an opponent who was later targeted in a failed assassination attempt.

BENIN SECURITY

Benin's state prosecutor said on Wednesday a former sports minister and a prominent businessman have been detained on suspicion of plotting a coup.

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