EVENTS:

Uganda's Central Bank releases inflation data for August.

Kenya's statistics office releases inflation data for August

GLOBAL MARKETS

Asian stocks rose on Friday and were poised for a solid end to August while the dollar was staring at its worst monthly performance in nine months, on the view that the Federal Reserve is all but certain to cut interest rates next month.

MKTS/GLOB

WORLD OIL PRICES

Oil prices inched higher on Friday as investors weighed supply concerns in the Middle East, although signs of weakened demand limited gains.

O/R

EMERGING MARKETS

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AFRICA STOCKS

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SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS

The South African rand firmed on Thursday to its strongest level in 13 months, buoyed by the return of risk appetite to financial markets ahead of key U.S. inflation data which could solidify rate cut bets in the world's biggest economy.

AFRICA MARKETS

Kenya's currency is forecast to remain stable in the next week to Thursday, Ghana's and Zambia's could be under pressure, and Uganda's may strengthen, traders said.

KENYA MARKETS

The Kenyan shilling was flat on Thursday, as month-end hard-currency demand from the manufacturing sector was offset by foreign investor inflows for the local bond market, traders said.

LIBERIA MINING

Liberia's Environmental Protection Agency shut down on Wednesday the operations of China Union's iron ore Bong Mines for violating several environmental regulations, the regulatory agency said on Thursday.

NIGERIA FLOODS

At least 179 people have died and tens of thousands been displaced in weeks of flooding in Nigeria, the National Emergency Management Agency said on Thursday.

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