By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• China growth woes curb Asian shares, US equity futures turn down
• E-mini futures for S&P 500, Nikkei turn red
• Poor industrial profits data from China weighs on sentiment
• Tokyo-listed Brazilian stock exchange ETF jump after election

Oil Markets

• Oil dips as markets remain cautious on trade concerns
• Analysts expect global trade slowdown
• Oil markets in Asia remain tight ahead of Iran sanctions
• US rig count at March 2015 high
• Brent crude oil futures down 6 cents at $77.56 a barrel (0430GMT)
• US WTI crude futures flat at $67.59 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold prices nudge down as Asian stocks gain
• Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,232.54 an ounce (0055GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,234.70 an ounce

Grains

• Wheat prices climb nearly 2 pct to hit 10-day high
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 1.8 pct at $5.14-1/2 per bushel (0024GMT)
• Most active corn futures up about 1 pct at $3.71-1/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.8 pct at $8.51-1/2 per bushel
• Most active rice futures up 0.6 pct at $10.99 per hundredweight

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

• G20 Africa summit in Berlin today; 29-30 Oct

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

• South Africa’s MTN quarterly subscribers edge up
• African countries should ‘decolonise’ water, recognise customary rights – report
• Tribesman stage protest at Libya’s El Sharara oilfield
• South African home affairs minister says he was blackmailed over sex video
• Zambia to look at rebasing economy size in 2019 – finmin
• Russia not helping to stabilise CAR – France
• eSwatini king appoints MTN executive as prime minister – local media
• Athletics – Kenyan Kiptum sets half-marathon world record in Valencia
• Former South African finance minister says blackmailed after sex video leaked
• Saudi’s SABIC looking for Africa investment opportunities
• Libyan commander Haftar to attend Sicily conference, Italy says
• Congo ruling coalition rallies supporters before presidential election
• Ex-South African president De Klerk hospitalised for lung ailment
• US wheat up 3 pct after multi-month lows, Egypt tender eyed
• Nigeria aiming to resolve MTN dispute and soothe investor fears – minister
• South Africa raises $55 billion so far in investment pledges
• Ghana’s 91-day bill rises to 13.91 pct
• Africa Crude – Tenders mop up Nigerian crude, Forcados offered in window
• South Africa’s rand recovers as firms pledge $20 bln investment
• Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power says to invest $658 mln in South Africa
• Telecoms firm Vodacom says to invest $3 bln in South Africa
• McDonald’s to invest $205 mln in South Africa over next 5 years
• Carmakers pledge to invest over $3 bln in South Africa
• InterCement sells Portugal, Cape Verde units to OYAK for $795 mln
• Tunisia ready for Open Skies agreement with Europe – PM
• UN condemns human rights abuses in expulsion of Congolese from Angola
• Gold output at Randgold’s Ivorian mine to fal 23.3 pct below 2018 forecast
• Juncker says North Africa migrant “camps” not on EU agenda
• Ethiopia announces $7 bln in new road, power public-private projects
• Rhythms of slavery draw tourists to Moroccan village
• Namibia scraps black ownership rules for mining exploration licenses
• When do-gooders do harm: Liberia rape scandal shifts aid sector spotlight
• South Africa’s Aspen to invest $231 mln in sterile anaesthetics manufacturing
• Kenyan shilling steady, forecast weaken due to energy sector demand
• Vedanta says will invest $700-$800 mln in South Africa smelter
• Moody’s says weaker South African fiscal outlook a credit negative
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa says turning economy around
• South Africa’s committed to protecting property rights – Ramaphosa
• South Africa’s Naspers to invest $315 mln in technology expansion

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