By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• US stock futures, Asian shares slip as Trump puts new tariffs on China
• S&P500 E-mini futures down 0.2 pct
• MSCI ex-Japan Asia-Pacific down 0.3 pct, but Nikkei up sharply
• Trump imposes 10 pct tariffs on $200 bln goods from China
• US 10-year bond yields retreat from 4-mth highs

Oil Markets

• Oil prices drop as escalating trade war clouds demand outlook
• Brent crude futures down 0.4 pct at $77.78 per barrel (0054GMT)
• US WTI crude down 0.5 pct at $68.59 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold slips as new US tariffs on China lifts dollar
• Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,199.20 an ounce (0027GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.2 pct at $1,203.90

Grains

• Soybeans fall to near 10-year low
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.4 pct at $5.08-1/2 per bushel (0016GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.1 pct at $3.47-3/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures down 0.2 pct at $8.21-3/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures down 0.6 pct at $10.24 per hundredweight

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

• South Africa’s COSATU congress continues today (day 2)
• Day 2 of African ports and hinterland connectivity conference in Abuja (17-19 Sep)
• South Africa consumer confidence index for Q3 2018 expected [prev. 22]
• 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]

• Africa’s rapid population growth puts poverty progress at risk, says Gates
• British fund Gemcorp extends $250 million loan to Zimbabwe – CEO
• Nigeria’s disaster agency says 100 people killed in floods across 10 states
• Burundi threatens to quit UN human rights council, sue critics
• Germany, Algeria to work more closely on deportations, Merkel says
• Nairobi governor orders investigation into deaths of 12 babies at maternity hospital
• Uganda unit of Indian drugs firm Cipla raises $43.8 mln in IPO – Renaissance Capital
• South Africa’s Naspers plans to spin-off, list pay-TV unit
• International court sentences Congo politician Bemba for witness tampering
• Africa Crude – Angolan Nov oil exports may fall to 3-mth low
• South Africa’s competition watchdog imposes conditions on Sibanye-Lonmin deal
• Charity denies promoting teen abortions after Kenya bans radio ad
• At least 23 die in weekend of Ethiopia ethnic violence
• Egypt cancels debt auction as foreign investor appetite weakens
• South Africa not planning mass layoffs in public sector to fight recession – Ramaphosa
• Uganda accuses EU parliament of meddling in its internal affairs
• Ethiopian police detain 200 people over violence
• South African unions sign wage deal with AngolGold Ashanti
• Ugandan shilling weakens due to demand from manufacturing, energy companies
• Egypt cancels t-bond auction for 3^rd week – cenbank data
• Tunisia’s 2019 debt payments to hit record of more than $3 bln
• Egypt to offer extra shares in five state companies this year
• Nigeria hits back at HSBC after bank warns of economic stagnation
• South Africa’s Eskom has coal shortages at 10 power plants – spokesman
• Kenyan shilling unchanged amid inflows from remittances, offshore investors
• 5 die in stampede after Angolan soccer match
• South Africa’s AfriAg seeks UK medical cannabis producer license
• BP, Vitol go head to head in West African crude trading
• A year after US sanctions ended, Sudan’s economy unravels

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