  We study the planar spin exchange couplings in LiNiO2 using a perturbative
approach. We show that the inclusion of the trigonal crystal field splitting at
the Oxygen sites leads to the appearance of antiferromagnetic exchange
integrals in deviation from the Goodenough-Kanamori-Anderson rules for this 90
degree bond. That gives a microscopic foundation for the recently observed
coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic couplings in the
orbitally-frustrated state of LiNiO2. (F. Reynaud et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 86,
3638 (2001))
