By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia shares can’t shake trade stress, pound up on Brexit talk
• Asia shares ex Japan hit another 14-mth low, Nikkei firms
• Break in tariff hostilities welcome, but seen as temporary
• Sterling holds gains on hopes for a Brexit deal with EU

Oil Markets

• Oil firm as Iran sanctions loom, but US seeks to prevent supply shortfall
• US sanctions to target Iran oil exports from November
• Washington wants other producers replace falling Iran exports
• Asian refiners buy American oil to make up for Iranian supply
• Brent crude futures up 11 cents to $77.48 a barrel (0112GMT)
• US WTI crude futures up 7 cents at $67.61 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold slips as dollar firms on Sino-US trade tensions
• Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,194.30 an ounce (0106GMT)
• US gold futures mostly steady at $1,199.60 an ounce

Grains

• Wheat hits near 1-week high as global supply tightens
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.7 pct at $5.31-3/4 per bushel (0059GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 0.3 pct at $3.68-1/2 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.4 pct at $8.48-1/2 per bushel
• Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.92 per hundredweight

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

• South Africa’s Ramaphosa to answer questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) today
• ITU Telecom conference continues in Durban, South Africa, today
• South Africa manufacturing data for July expected [fcst. 0.7% yy, prev. 0.7%]
• South Africa’s state capture inquiry continues

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

• Hurricane Helene, west of Cape Verde, forecast to strengthen next 12-24 hours – NHC
• Nigerian gas tanker explosion kills at least 35
• US ‘gravely concerned’ by reports of abuse by Ugandan security forces – official
• Egypt cancels second consecutive t-bond sale due to high yields
• Interpol rescues 85 child slaves from Sudan’s streets and gold mines
• Rich nations must act to avoid ‘refugee catastrophe’ in East Africa – aid agencies
• Tanzania tells short-stay accomodation operators to register or face arrest
• African Crude – Nigerian again bid by BP; Angolan mostly sold
• South Africa ready to intervene in MTN-Nigeria dispute – minister
• Ebola fight has new science but faces old hurdles in restive Congo
• Cash-strapped Sudan to form leaner new govt in two days
• South Africa’s rand recovering, stocks falter on local economic pressure
• New Zimbabwe finance minister wants to clear World Bank arrears
• Gunemn attack headquarters of Libya’s state oil firm, two staff killed
• Egypt says 11 suspected militants killed in Sinai
• MTN seeks court order to protect Nigeria assets over dispute
• Egypt’s inflation edges up in August after subsidy cuts
• Bain changes South Africa management after conceding lapses in tax agency work
• Djibouti nationalises Port of Djibouti’s shares in Doraleh Container terminal
• South Sudan signs, extends oil exploration, production deals for 3 blocks
• Egypt’s core inflation increases to 8.83 pct y/y in August – cenbank
• South African govt to accelerate licensing of new radio spectrum – Ramaphosa
• Congo mining revenue triple in H1; oil revenue fall by a third
• Slingshots in hand, Kenyans work to replant vanishing forests
• Souty Africa may miss tax target over recession – finmin
• Pest-proof bags and bins slim Tanzania’s ‘lean season’
• Ugandan shilling seen edging lower due to importer demand
• Suicide car bomb kills at least six in Somali capital
• Chairman of Libya state oil firm safely evacuated from headquarters – witness
• Kenyan shilling steady; horticultures export inflows meet dollar demand
• Egypt’s annual urban consumer inflation rises to 14.2 pct in August – CAPMAS
• South Africa’s African Oxygen profit rises on LPG, gases boost

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