Breaking News Today – Wednesday 25 June 2025

Business & Tech News 

Platinum Hits All-Time-High

Platinum futures prices spiked to a new all-time-high this morning above the $1300 per ounce level, bringing its growth to over 44% year-to-date and by over 21% in June so far. The bull market in the precious metal is being driven by tight supply, rising jewellery restocking, as well as new indicators out of Europe that are seeing vehicle sales rise. A key catalyst has been the sharp drop in the gold/platinum ratio, historically a signal of platinum strength. With gold still firm amid Middle East tensions, particularly involving Israel and Iran, platinum continues to gain interest as a cheaper jewellery alternative. Demand has grown sharply in Asia, with fabrication and restocking gaining pace. Platinum’s industrial use in hydrogen energy, diesel catalysts, and electronics is supporting the price move. South Africa currently produces 80% of the world’s total platinum volume, and the higher prices will support the overall flagging mining industry there.

India Poland and Hungary in Space

A privately funded SpaceX flight has just taken off this morning from the Kenedy Space centre in Houston with astronauts from India, Poland and Hungary onboard. The three countries have shared the cost of the two-week space mission. at a reported ticket price of over $65 million per astronaut. The three space novices, India’s Shubhanshu Shukla, Hungary’s Tibor Kapu and Poland’s Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski, will be accompanied by experienced astronaut Peggy Whitson. The astronauts are due to arrive at the orbiting space lab tomorrow morning. 

Cocoa Futures Rebound

Cocoa futures saw a surge in demand pushing prices back above $9,400 per ton this morning, up from recent two-month lows this week where prices were below $8500 per ton. Traders remained focused on the outlook for the next main crop in top cocoa producer Ivory Coast. Reports of heavy rain in the country is affecting the cocoa growers and is disrupting the ongoing mid-crop cocoa harvest process. Ivory Coast agricultural department data released earlier this week, indicated that cocoa farmers shipped 1.679 MMT of cocoa to ports this marketing year from October 1 to June 22, up 6.9% from last year, however this was significantly under the 35% increase seen in December.

Business, Tech & Market News Shorts:

• Google’s Startups Accelerator: Africa Class 9 has seen entries from 15 AI-focused startups from seven African countries, including Nigeria’s Pastel and Rwanda’s AFRIKABAL. Running from June 23 to August 22, 2025, the program offers mentorship and resources to scale these ventures. 
• Egypt-based logistics startup Octane has raised $5.2 million to expand its MENA fleet payment solutions. The funds will enhance its digital platform, streamlining fuel and toll payments for logistics firms. 
• Standard Bank, Africa’s third-largest company, has partnered with the African Development Bank for a $200 million trade finance risk participation agreement. Additionally, Standard Bank issued a R3.6 billion ($194 million) social bond to support SME lending.
• China has said it would respond to Taiwan’s “technological blockades” after the Taiwanese government blacklisted various Chinese company products including Huawei Technologies, limiting their ability to develop cutting-edge artificial intelligence. This was in response to the ban on Huawei chip imports and other tech components, implemented last week by Taiwan.
• Sam Altman CEO of OpenAI has had a discussion with Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, regarding future working partnership between the two Tech groups, according to a New York Times podcast on Tuesday. Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Microsoft, the AI startup’s major backer, and OpenAI are discussing revisions to Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI.

Markets by Numbers 

Currencies: 

Currency markets indicate the US Dollar is currently trading lower against the Euro at 1.16011 and against the Pound at 1.36120. The Yen is currently at 145.47 to the dollar, with the rand currently at R17.73 to the US dollar. 

Commodities:

• Gold futures prices are trending upwards this morning, and are currently at $3329.60 per ounce.  

• Copper prices are also trending slightly upwards this morning and are currently at $4.897.  

• Silver futures prices are trading slightly higher this morning and are currently at $35.932 

• Platinum futures are trading upwards this morning, and are currently trading at $1306, while Palladium prices are currently at $1072 

• Brent crude oil prices are currently trending lower and currently at $68.05, with WTI trading at $65.25. 

• Cocoa futures are currently up by over 7% this morning and currently at $9179 per ton. 

• Coffee futures prices are currently at $321.29 

Crypto Currencies:

• Bitcoin prices are currently trading upwards and currently at $106441

• Ether prices are also trending upwards this morning and currently at $2432.30

• $Trumpcoin is trading at $9.11

(All prices quoted at approximately 10H30 – Central African Time) 

Other Breaking News in Africa Today 

Sudan Hospital Attack Disturbing:

An attack on the only remaining functional hospital in Sudans South West Cordovan State – the Al Mujlad Hospital, has left more than 40 people dead, including children and health workers, in one of the deadliest assaults on healthcare since the country’s civil war began in April 2023.  The World Health Organisation (WHO) chief, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the incident as “appalling” and renewed urgent calls for an end to violence against medical facilities. 

Kenyan Protests Continue:

Kenyan protesters took to the streets this morning, 25 June, marking the one-year anniversary of anti-government protests that resulted in the deaths of several protesters who were shot by polices after they had stormed the parliamentary buildings. President Ruto withdrew the proposed new tax bill and created a new government of national unity in the after math of the demonstrations. However recent use of force by security forces as well as the abduction and death by police has of a local blogger, Albert Ojwang, have reignited much anger in the community. Six people, including three police officers, have been charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder yesterday in a Kenyan court over Ojwang’s murder.