By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian stocks dip on trade, emerging markets woes
• Asian shares hampered by worries over Sino-US trade war
• Emerging market currencies seen fragile despite latest rebound
• US markets closed for Labor Day

Oil Markets

• Brent crude oil dips on rising OPEC output; looming sanctions on Iran prevent bigger fall
• OPEC output hit 2018 high in August – survey
• But US sanctions to target Iran’s oil exports from November
• US rig count climbs, pointing to more production

Precious metals

• Gold edges down as rising trade tensions buoy dollar
• Spot gold down 0.3 pct at $1,196.93 an ounce (0054GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.4 pct at $1,202.50 an ounce

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

• African leaders in Beijing, China for FOCAC summit which starts today; 3-4 Sep
• South Africa’s state capture inquiry continues
• Rwanda parliamentary elections today

Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
[Posted & commented on some headlines below at my Twitter handle @DrRafiqRaji]

• Some 400 prisoners escape prison in Tripoli chaos
• Archeologists find Neolithic remains in Nile Delta
• Islamists in northeast Nigeria kill up to 30 soldiers – sources
• Al Shabaab car bomb kills at least six in central Mogadishu
• White workers at South Africa’s Sasol to strike over black share scheme
• Tunisia govt raises fuel prices, fourth hike this year
• Ugandan opposition lawmaker arrives the US for medical treatment
• Trains delayed: Ethiopia debt woes curtail China funding
• Kenya imposes 16 pct VAT on petroleum products, defying lawmakers
• China loans to Nigeria $328 mln to boost telecoms – Nigeria presidency
• Algeria’s Bouteflika back from Geneva medical trip – presidency
• Nigeria’s $8.1 bln demand cast doubts over MTN’s Nigeria IPO plans – sources
• China’s TBEA to invest in 180 mln euro Gabon hydropower project – Gabon
• China says not putting pressure on Taiwan’s last Africa ally
• Libya closes Tripoli airport after rockets fired
• Chad signs deal with Ethiopian Airlines to launch national carrier
• Ebola control measures seem to be working in Congo, WHO says
• Africa Crude – Nigerian firms, Angolan cargoes dwindle
• South Africa’s rand steadies after emerging market rout, stocks fall
• Congo Republic says to launch vaccination drive after yellow fever outbreak
• Zimplats FY profit tumbles after higher deferred tax charge
• Volkswagen to expand in Ghana, Nigeria
• South Africa’s trade balance swings to deficit in July
• Russia in talks with Eritrea to set up port project – RIA
• Tunisian energy minister, officials sacked over graft accusations – govt
• Ugandan shilling unchanged amid low appetite from banks, importers
• Crisis-hit Steinhoff says 9-mth sales rise 2 pct
• Kenya inflation at 4.04 pct in August – stats office
• MTN Uganda bets on music streaming as voice business slows
• Tunisia PM to merge energy, industry ministries after dismissing energy head, source says
• BW Offshore Q2 EBITDA beats forecast, sees first Gabon oil in Sept/Oct
• South Africa to publish mining charter by November – minister
• South Africa’s Old Mutual H1 profit flat; declares dividend

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