By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Shares rally, dollar eases as Trump report fans US-China trade deal hopes
• MSCI Asia ex-Japan up 2.5 pct, US stock futures up 0.5 pct
• Trump said to have asked to prepare trade deal draft
• China shares rally on easing trade tensions, govt support
• Dollar under pressure as risk-sensitive currencies gain
• European shares seen rising 1.0 pct

Oil Markets

• Oil seesaws on reported Iran sanction waivers, hopes US-China trade spat can be resolved
• Prices also weighed down by surge in supply
• US sanctions against Iran oil exports start next week
• But serveral countries reported to be receiving waivers
• Brent crude futures down 1 cent at $72.88 a barrel (0737GMT)
• US WTI crude futures down 33 cents at $63.36 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold steady; investors eye US non-farm payroll data
• Holdings in SPDR Gold Trust rise
• Platinum hits fresh high since June 27
• Spot gold flat at $1,232.81 an ounce (0702GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.3 pct at $1,235.1 per ounce

Grains

• Soybeans set for biggest weekly gain in 16 mths on US-China trade hopes
• Soybeans up for 4^th session, poised for strong weekly gain
• Signs of easing US-China trade tensions underpin prices
• Chinay soymeal futures down 5 pct after Trump-Xi phone call
• Wheat eyes weekly rise after 3 weeks of losses
• Most active CBOT soybean futures up 0.7 pct at $8.89 a bushel (0543GMT), up more than 5 pct for the week
• Wheat up 0.2 pct for the week, corn down 0.4 pct

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

• Australia’s Invictus says it has not found oil and gas deposits in Zimbabwe
• Kenya’s Safaricom first-half revenue jumps nearly 8 pct
• South African rand, bonds firmer as risk appetite improves
• Rain or shine, grain banks help Kenyan farmers beat trade cartels
• Human rights in Morocco deteriorate in 2017-18 – rights group
• African crude – Spot thin as traders wait for Pertamina results
• Ivorian cocoa exporters struggle to get finance after SAF-Cacao failure
• Egyptian authorities detain daughter of senior Muslim Brotherhood leader
• Morocco imposes online entry permit rule for African travellers
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa fires suspended tax boss Moyane
• Egypt regulator suspends Beltone Financial IPO unit for 6 months
• Public hearings show support for land expropriation – South Africa parliament
• Madagascar’s next leader: accountant, DJ or milkman?
• Sudan should prosecute Darfur crimes, pursue ICC arrest warrants – UN
• South Africa’s finmin Mboweni says state airline should be closed down
• Show must go on for Libya’s threatened actresses
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa says arms firm Denel ripe for JV partnerships
• Mnangagwa says Australian firm finds oil, gas in Zimbabwe
• White farmer’s role highlights South Africa’s land reform challenge
• Egypt signs $2.3 bln power plant deal with Saudi ACWA Power – minister
• Angola expects economy to grow 2.8 pct in 2019 – minister
• Nigeria shores up fuel needs ahead of 2019 election with BP deal
• Angola sees oil production of 1.57 mbd in 2019 – govt budget
• Wealthy Madagascar candidates woo sceptical voters trapped by poverty
• Kenyan central bank sells dollars after shilling weakens
• Ugandan shilling to gain, Nigeria’s naira to ease, Ghana’s cedi to slip; in week ahead
• Tanzania arrests opposition leader over deaths claim – party
• Zimbabwe’s Mangudya to get second term as central bank governor – report
• Uganda shilling stronger on inflows from charities
• Nigeria’s NNPC signs crude-for-product swap deal with BP
• South African central bank made important changes to forecasting model
• Suspected Boko Haram militants kill 15 in northeast Nigeria – residents
• South Africa’s Absa PMI fell for a third consecutive month in October
• Ethiopia get its first female supreme court president
• South Africa’s Gold Fields union to strike over job cuts
• Tunisia central bank holds key interest rate at 6.75 pct
• South Africa’s Sibanye-Stillwater Q3 EBITDA dives 40 pct

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