By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global markets

• Asia stocks mixed, Nikkei up as yen eases
• North Korea tests suspected ICBM, initial reaction muted
• Bitcoin tops $10k barrier on more exchanges
• Republican senators progress with U.S. tax cut plans
• S. banking stocks boosted by presumptive Fed chair

Oil markets

• Extended OPEC-led production cuts are priced in – traders
• But doubts over Russia’s willingness to extend cuts emerge
• API reports surprise climb in U.S. crude inventories
• But healthy world economy should support oil demand

Precious metals

• Spot gold was little changed at $1,294.12 an ounce (0113GMT)
• S. gold futures were down 0.1 percent at $1,293.60
• Palladium dipped 0.2 percent at $1,024.99 an ounce, after hitting its highest since February 2001 at $1,028.70 in the previous session

Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]

• 2-day AU-EU summit starts today in Abidjan [Europe’s African immigrant problem may overshadow more important developmental issues] #AUEUSummit2017
• Nigeria 117 bln naira treasury bill auction by central bank today [N26B (3M), N11B (6M), N80B (1Y)] #Nigeria #Debt
• South Africa M3 money supply (Oct-17) [act. 5.0% yy, fcst. 5.9% yy, prev. 7.1% rev] #SouthAfrica #M3
• South Africa PSCE (Oct-17) [act. 5.4% yy, fcst. 6.3% yy, prev. 5.5% rev] #SouthAfrica #PSCE

Key African events or data releases yesterday
[Posted & commented on headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]

• Kenya president sworn in, rival Odinga promises own inauguration
• Difficult migration debate looms as African and EU leaders meet
• Nigeria central bank injects $210M into currency market
• Moodys’ places on review for downgrade 15 South African sub-sovereigns
• Rand investors increase bets South Africa’s Ramaphosa will replace Zuma
• Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa opens amnesty window for return of stolen funds
• Macron’s promise of new France-Africa ties raises heckles
• Algeria expects Ourhoud oilfield to produce 1.3 billion barrels until 2040
• Zimbabwe’s Mugabe is gone, but political kow-towing still abounds
• CFA franc is a matter for Africans, France open to changes, Macron says
• In long-awaited move, Egypt central bank scraps FX restrictions for importers
• Egypt security forces kill 11 suspected militants in raid
• At least 17 killed in gold mine dispute on Mali-Guinea border
• Amnesty wants probe into Shell’s alleged role in 1990s Nigeria violence
• Macron touts European initiative to evacuate Africans trapped in Libya
• Zambia says ‘must have’ $1.3 bln IMF loan in place in 2018
• Kenya president lifts travel restrictions, saying all Africans can get visa on arrival
• Grenade thrown at French troops in Burkina Faso before Macron’s arrival
• South Africa’s Eskom links Medupi new coal-fired unit to national grid
• South Africa’s Q4 business confidence slips slightly
• Yields lower in weekly South African government bond auction
• Burundi opposition platform boycotts new round of peace talks in Tanzania 

N.B
Full story of above headlines are available on Reuters