By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares resume descent
• Oil prices up on Saudi tensions
• Pound falls after no Brexit agreement reached before EU summit

Oil Markets

• Oil prices rise amid Saudi tensions, but demand outlook drags
• South Korea imported no Iran crude in September
• IEA has trimmed its demand outlook
• Brent crude futures up 1.2 pct at $81.41 a barrel (0124GMT)
• US WTI crude futures up 1.1 pct at $72.15 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold rises as Asian shares dip amid China concerns
• Spot gold up 0.3 pct at $1,220.66 an ounce (0102GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.2 pct at $1,224.1 an ounce

Grains

• Corn, soybeans ease after 2-day rally on lower US output
• Most active CBOT corn futures down 0.4 pct at $3.72-1/4 a bushel (0231GMT)
• Most active wheat futures down 0.1 pct at $5.16-3/4 a bushel
• Most active soy futures down 0.2 pct at $8.65-3/4 a bushel

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

• Nigeria inflation data for Sep-18 expected [fcst. 11.5%, prev. 11.2%]

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

• “Innocent bystanders”: Emerging economies struggle to contain capital outflows
• Egypt calls for transparent investigation of Khashoggi case
• Egypt’s SODIC says seeking to take over Madinet Nasr
• Death toll from twin suicide bombings in southern Somalia rises to 20
• Islamic State in Nigeria might soon kill health workers, schoolgirl – ICRC
• Sudan pound strengthens for first time since devaluation
• Egypt court upholds death sentences for three suspected militants
• Congo migrants flood home, Angola denies claims of brutal crackdown
• French prosecutor recommends dropping probe of 1994 Rwanda president killing – source
• Egypt minister sees no threats attached to China investment
• Death toll rises to 20 after suicide bombings in southern Somalia
• Soccer-Ighalo hat-trick takes Nigeria closer to Nations Cup place
• Soccer-Injury forces Salah out of Egypt qualifier
• Lavrov says Russia keen to boost airline security with Egypt
• Kenya’s ex-sports minister to be charged over Rio Olympics graft
• Egypt looks to tap Asian debt markets under debt restructuring
• UN employee in eastern Congo tests positive for ebola
• Soccer-Cameroon get first win for Seedorf, Salah injured in Egypt victory
• Nigerian opposition candidate Abubakar picks 2019 election running mate
• Fire on southeast Nigerian state oil pipeline kills 19 people – NNPC
• Madagascar guides fret about the future as loggers destroy forests
• Africa Crude – IOC mops up some Nigerian overhang
• Egypt says to check hotels at Red Sea resort where British couple died
• South African rand rallies as Moody’s seen holding fire, stocks rebound
• UN says 833 children released by Nigerian militia group
• In sign of better relations, Rwandan heads Francophonie body
• Kenya’s KenGen says new geothermal plant nearly ready
• South Africa’s Exxaro looks to fill Eskom coal shortage
• Vietnam seizes 13 rhino horns shipped from South Africa
• South African anti-apartheid veteran Tutu discharged from hospital
• Kenyan shilling firms amid excess liquidity in money markets
• South Africa’s Tiger Brands re-opens processing facility after listeria outbreak
• Pik Botha, global face of South Africa’s apartheid state, dies at 86
• Political rift in Ivory Coast raises concerns for 2020
• Landslide kills 31 in eastern Uganda

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