By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• China stocks stumble despite central bank liquidity support
• China blue-chips off 3.6 pct
• MSCI Asia ex-Japan -0.8 pct
• Yuan down on weakest fixing since May 2017

Oil Markets

• Oil drops 1 pct at US considers granting some waivers on Iran crude sanctions
• Analysts warn of limited capacity
• Hedge funds cut bullish crude futures positions
• US oil drilling stalls
• Brent crude futures down 1.1 pct at $83.25 per barrel (0115GMT)
• US WTI crude futures down 0.8 pct at $73.77 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold dips as dollar firms after China eases policy
• Spot gold down 0.2 pct at $1,200.31 an ounce (0103GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,204.40 an ounce

Grains

• Soybean prices hit 6-wk high as rains expected to slow harvesting
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.7 pct at $5.24-1/2 per bushel (0056GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 0.2 pct at $3.69 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.6 pct at $8.74-1/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.82 per hundredweight

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

• South Africa’s finmin Nene to give speech at banking summit today; key focus may instead be how much longer he would remain on the job after lying scandal

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

• Nigerian ex-minister and Chibok girls champion to run for president
• Libya PM reshuffles ministers to broaden support after Tripoli clashes
• Polls in Cameroon close after vote marked by seperatist unrest
• Sudan sets daily exchange rate at 47.5 pounds per dollar in sharp devaluation
• Nigeria central bank may reduce $8.1 bln MTN repatriation demand
• Sonatrach to launch offshore drilling with Total, ENI in Algeria next year
• Prisoner sieze control of part of South Sudan detention centre
• Nigeria’s central bank will continue to intervene in FX markets – governor
• Nigeria’s opposition PDP selects Abubakar for 2019 presidential election
• Three armed seperatists shot dead during Cameroon vote – security source
• Zambia says open to dialogue with miners over tax increases
• Prisoners riot at detention centre in South Sudan
• Congo Republic approves 2019 budget with GDP growth forecast of 3.7 pct
• Nigeria promotes growth plan to investors on New York roadshow
• Five new ebola cases confirmed in eastern Congo – health ministry
• Egytp bans former presidential candidate from travel abroad – agency
• Mozambique launches initiative to disarm, reintegrate opposition fighters
• Worried Zimbabweans fill up cars and stockpile goods, bank sees improvement soon
• UK’s CNM plans to relaucnch Zambia nickel mine next year
• IMF expects 4 pct growth in Malawi in 2019, economy performing well
• US first lady Melania Trump wraps up solo African tour in Egypt
• Fire hits palm plantation in Egypt’s New Valley, 37 hurt – report
• Zimbabwe puts troubled national airline under administration
• Rwanda court orders critic of president released on bail
• Ghana’s 91-day bill edges up to 13.4 pct
• Ethiopia’s ruling coalition re-elects PM Abiy as chairman
• Nigeria’s central bank files counter claim in escalating MTN dispute
• Soccer-FIFA suspends Sierra Leone FA for govt interference
• Morocco’s CFG Bank expects to return to profit in 2021
• Nigeria to prosecute those to blame for Sky Bank’s failure – finmin
• Melania Trump goes on safari in Kenya and visits an orphanage
• New UN-led fund may make loans as easy as ABC for Africa’s farmers
• Congolese doctor dedicates Nobel Peace Prize to victims of sexual violence
• Tears flow as escaped Chibok captive brings news – good and bad
• Mali expects 2018 industrial gold output to rise 21 pct
• Egypt signs deal for sale of stake in oil company ENPPI
• Kenya detains five Chinese nationals found with security equipment
• Nigeria seeks 15 pct interest from MTN on $8.1 bln moved abroad – court papers
• Zimbabwe rebases data, boosting GDP numbers by 40 pct
• South African finance minister says he deeply regrets Gupta meetings
• Kenya shilling unchanged, draws support from remittances and weak demand
• Kenya on course to develop nuclear energy , official says
• Congolese Mukwege, Iraq’s Murad win 2018 Nobel Peace Prize
• Foreign investment in Egypt falls, austerity plan hurts demand
• South Africa’s net foreign reserves fall to $42.23 bln in Sept.
• South Africa train collision injures 320 people

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