By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia shares pare losses as China rallies on stimulus hope
• Nikkei falls 1 pct, leads more losses in Asia
• Market anxious ahead of rush of US earnings
• Saudi Arabia, Italy, Brexit keeps geopolitics in focus

Oil Markets

• Oil edges up on looming Iran sanctions, but US-China trade war caps gains
• Sanctions against Iran oil exports to start Nov. 4
• US rig count highest since 2015
• ICE to launch new US crude export futures contract
• Other producers will struggle to replace Iran shortfall – IEA
• Brent crude oil futures up 10 cents at $79.88 a barrel (0248GMT)
• US WTI crude futures up 19 cents at $69.31

Precious metals

• Gold inches higher as Asian stocks slip
• Spot gold up 0.1 pct at $1,227.56 an ounce (0039GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.2 pct at $1,230.60 an ounce

Grains

• Soybeans fall to near 2-wk low as US exports slow
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.6 pct at $5.11-1/2 per bushel (0119GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.3 pct at $3.66 per bushel
• Most active soy futures down 0.1 pct at $8.56 per bushel
• Most active rice futures unchanged at $11.23 per hundredweight

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

• Botswana, Namibia presidents in Geneva for UNCTAD World Investment Forum #WIF2018

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

• Author of critical book on Egypt’s economy arrested: sources, wife
• Ethiopia signs peace deal with rebels from gas-rich region
• Nigeria deploys special security force after 55 killed in Kaduna state
• Nigerian unions threaten to resume strike unless govt acts on minimum wage
• At least 14 killed in violence in eastern Congo’s ebola zone
• Comoros places governor of strife-torn Anjouan under house arrest
• Tunisia’s UGTT union cancels national strike after govt deal
• Exiled Ethiopian Olympic runner who protested against govt returns home
• Egypt extends state of emergency for 3 months
• Hundreds of migrants storm Spanish enclave in North Africa, one dies
• Egypt’s EGX30 index falls after govt signals delay to IPO programme
• Return to Egypt revives memories of desert battle for British veterans
• Tanzania arrests 104 people for plotting “radical camps” in Mozambique
• Congo’s controversial voting machines start arriving
• African billionaire returns home unharmed after release by kidnappers – police
• Tunisia to sell eurobonds worth $1 bln early next week – govt source
• Egypt commends ‘decisive’ and ‘brave’ actions by Saudi king over Khashoggi case
• Liberia launches investigation into US charity after rape allegations
• Ghana’s 91-day bill rises 13.75 pct
• Court ot hear MTN’s case against Nigeria’s central bank in $8.1 bln transfer row
• Libya’s Hariga oil port operating normally following protest – workers
• US official optimistic Congo ebola outbreak can be controlled
• Africa Crude – Angola’s December cargoes start trading
• Russia to send more military trainers, equipment to Central African Republic
• Comoros authorities sign pact to end standoff on island
• Detained former head of Ethiopian region tried to escape – police
• Guards on Hong Kong-flagged ship repel pirates off Somalia coast – EU force
• African bank Oragroup to launch largest ever IPO on Abidjan bourse
• Acacia Mining looks to force talks on Tanzania dispute
• Cameroon court rejects all petitions calling for re-run of elections
• Tanzania police work with Interpol to search for abducted tycoon
• South African dairy firm Clover says in takeover talks, shares soar
• Ugandan shilling unchanged; dollar demand slow
• Kenyan shilling steady, remittances match importer dollar demand
• Egypt postpones Eastern Tobacco share offering
• Kenyan ex-sports minister charged over Rio Olympics graft
• Kenya’s lone ice-hockey team has Olympic-sized dreams
• Kenya to set up gold refinery to help small miners
• Cameroon court rejects all petitions calling for re-run of elections
• Acacia threatens to invoke investment treaty in Tanzania dispute
• MTN Ghana revenue rises, driven by mobile money service
• Bank of Kigali prices its cash call at 270 francs per share

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