By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian stocks on edge over escalation in US-China trade tensions
• US plans more China tariffs if Trump-Xi meeting fails – report
• Asian shares edgy, on track for worst Oct since 2008
• Euro declines as Merkel decides to give up party chair job

Oil Markets

• Oil prices fall on rising supply, global market woes
• Brent crude oil futures down 0.8 pct at $76.78 a barrel (0040GMT)
• US WTI crude futures down 0.4 pct at $66.78 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold down as dollar gains on US-China trade war fears
• Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,227.92 an ounce (0400GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.2 pct at $1,229.80 an ounce

Grains

• US soybeans fall to 6-wk low on USDA harvest report
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.6 pct at $5.04 per bushel (0113GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.2 pct at $3.66 per bushel
• Most active soy futures down 0.4 pct at $8.36 per bushel
• Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.63 per hundredweight

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

• G20 Africa summit continues in Berlin today; South Africa’s Ramaphosa attending

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

• Raped then jailed: Mauritanian women fight to end victim blaming
• Africa Crude – Nigerian diffs edge higher; Angolan drawn straight to China
• South African central bank readies ground for higher rates
• South Africa’s MTN says relying on courts to end Nigeria dispute
• Nigeria military opens fire on Shi’ite Muslim protesters – Reuters witness
• Pro wrestling proves a hit with Egyptian crowds
• South Africa’s central bank says worried about inflation, low growth
• Italy’s Eni strikes deal with Total to boost Algeria operations
• South Africa’s Nedbank becomes latest firm to drop KPMG
• South African ex-president de Klerk discharged after lung ailment
• Off-grid firm BBOXX targets two new African markets with EDF – CEO
• Italy’s Eni strikes deal with Total to boost Algeria operations
• Gabon leader has stroke, sources say, govt says it’s fatigue
• South Africa’s MTN sees debut Nigeria stock market listing in early 2019
• Zimbabwe’s 2018 budget deficit seen at 11.1 pct of GDP
• Nine people wounded when woman blew herself up in Tunis – Interior ministry
• Kenyan central bank sells dollars after shilling weakens
• South Sudan violence blocking food aid, says UN’s WFP
• Zimbabwe lithium miner sees first production in Q2 next year
• Airtel Africa says IPO plans on track
• Kenyan shilling under pressure against the dollar from importer demand
• Uganda shilling unchanged, may firm on offshore inflows for bond sale
• UAE’s RAK Gas signs production sharing agreement with Zanzibar
• In rain-short Mali, villagers enlist irrigation to ward off extremism
• South African credit demand growth slows to 6.26 pct in September
• Sout Africa’s MTN quarterly subscribers edge up
• African countries should ‘decolonise’ water, recognise customary rights – report

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