By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia shares losses as China’s steps help Shanghai recover
• MSCI Asia ex-Japan up 0.05 pct
• China shares see-saw on growth worry, regulator support pledges
• Japan’s Nikkei off 0.7 pct
• Trade disputes, rising US rates, Italy budget weigh

Oil Markets

• Oil prices edge up, but set for weekly loss on stock build, trade row
• Brent crude futures up 0.4 pct at $79.63 a barrel (0124GMT)
• US WTI crude futures up 0.4 pct at $68.92 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold edges higher as Asian shares slip
• Spot gold up 0.2 pct at $1,227.31 an ounce (0107GMT)
• US gold futures little changed at $1,230.60 an ounce

Grains

• Soybeans edge higher, set for biggest weekly loss in 5 weeks
• Most active CBOT wheat futures unchanged at $5.13 per bushel (0058GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.3 pct at $3.69-3/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.1 pct at $8.64-1/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.96 per hundredweight

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

• Namibia’s Geingob in Kenya today for state visit
• South Africa presidential health summit today; Ramaphosa ill, Mabuza attending instead

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

• Bank of Kigali prices its cash call at 270 francs per share
• Feature – Can a hungry Mali turn rice technology into “white gold”?
• Morocco sees govt budget deficit narrowing to 3.3pct in 2019
• Benin businessman sentenced in absentia to 20 years for drug trafficking
• Tribe of slain Libya rebel commander protests at eastern oil port
• Algeria bans wearing of full-face veils at work
• Rwanda president appoints new foreign, defense ministers in reshuffle
• Nigeria plans to cut 2019 budget and lower debt to boost revenues – budget minister
• Ghana sells 988.7 mln cedis ($203.6 mln) domestic bonds at 19.5 pct yield
• African Crude – Nigerian December crude loading programmes emerge
• Tanzania charges Acacia subsidiaries with tax evasion, corruption
• South Africa’s rand softer after US Fed’s minutes; stocks fall
• Egypt accuses 3 oil executives of embezzling nearly $1 bln – agency
• Water, power supplies cut off on strife-torn Comoros island – residents
• Investec asset management buys stake in South African school firm
• Ethiopia’s PM says soldiers who marched on palace sought to ‘abort reforms’
• Egypt prosecutor refers 3 oil industry execs for trial for alleged corruption – judicial source
• Mauritius bourse looks to entice African issuers with new index
• Creditor seeks to wind up Kenya’s Uchumi Supermarkets over debt
• Afreximbank loans Zimbabwe $500 million as dollar crisis worsens
• Russia may use National Wealth Fund to finance Egypt nuclear plant: Siluanov
• Former Sudan president Suwar al-Dahab dies in Riyadh – SUNA
• Ethiopia soldiers who marched on palace wanted to abort reforms – PM
• Uganda shilling firms amid sell-off in interbank
• South Africa poised to adopt plan to boost local car industry suppliers
• Nigeria extends crude-for-product swaps until June 2019 – sources
• Ethiopia’s FX reserves rise 30 pct after falling to ‘alarming’ levels – PM
• New Age appraisal well in Cameroon’s Etinde field strikes gas, oil
• Hoegh Gallant LNG carrier leaves Egypt, sets US destination
• South Africa’s Old Mutual sells all 5.5 mln shares in Nedbank
• Tax byte: Africans fear trend towards levies on data, services
• South African retailer Mr Price says CEO to retire by year-end

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