By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares tentative ahead of Trump-Xi meeting, Fed speech
• MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan flat, Australian shares soft
• Dollar index near 1-1/2 year peak
• China, US could reach a deal – Kudlow
• British pound among worst performers on Brexit news

Oil Markets

• Oil edges up ahead of OPEC meeting, but sentiment still cautious
• Brent crude oil futures up 0.7 pct at $60.65 per barrel (0148GMT)
• US WTI crude futures up 0.6 pct at $51.88 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold prices steady as Fed comments boost dollar
• Spot gold steady at $1,214.71 per ounce (0134GMT)
• US gold futures little changed at $1,214 per ounce

Grains

• Wheat edges away from 1-wk low, soybean prices steady
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.3 pct at $5.07-3/4 per bushel (0140GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.1 pct at $3.56-1/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures unchanged at $8.75-1/2 per bushel
• Most active rice futures down about 0.1 pct at $10.84 per hundredweight

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

• • Blue economy conference in Nairobi, Kenya, concludes today; 26-28 Nov
  • Kenya MPs to vote on gender bill today
  • South Africa’s state capture inquiry continues
  • Nigeria’s Buhari to visit northeast of country; where soldiers were recently killed by terrorists
  • South Africa’s Eskom to release interim financials today
  • South Africa consumer confidence data for Q3 due [prev. 22]
  • Saudi’s Falih to hold briefing with Nigerian oil minister today in Abuja

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

• Saudi crown prince leaves Tunisia to Argentina to attend G20 summit
• Tunisians stage first Arab protests against visiting Saudi crown prince
• Russian bank: we assigned $12 bln ‘loan’ to poor African state by mistake
• Saudi, Tunisia have good relations – Saudi crown prince
• G20 makes slow progress on communique amid ‘difficult’ talks
• Sierra Leone president urges end to strike at Iluka’s rutile mine
• Gabon’s Bongo headed to Morocco to continue recovery – wife
• MPs: Kenya must pass women’s representative bill or risk constitutional crisis
• Millions of poor city children worse off than rural peers – UNICEF
• Zambia targets 200 MW solar power to reduce hydro dependency
• Saudi Falih to hold briefing with Nigerian oil minister on Weds
• Prince Harry joins the circus in Zambian youth project
• Nigeria awards mining exploration contract to 10 mining, consulting firms
• Africa crude – Nigerian Bonny exports set to dip in January
• Egypt’s state banks helping to support currency – bankers, economists
• Cameroon seperatists risk death sentence following terrorism charges
• Under pressure from Western donors, Tanzania leader prefers China aid
• La Mancha plans to expand its African footpring, buy Barrick gold mines
• Migrant flows slow to trickle in Libyan former smuggling hub
• Kenyan central bank holds main lending rate at 9.0 pct
• Ethiopia PM meets opposition parties, promises fair elections
• South Africa’s Taste halts Domino’s and Starbucks store expansion
• South Africa leftist leader Malema files graft complaint against Gordhan
• Algeria’s Sonatrach awards gas contract to Britain’s Petrofac
• Egypt’s poor bear brunt of crackdown on farmland building
• Kenyan shilling weakens on end month demand
• South Africa’s Omnia to cut chemical unit job s after half-year loss
• South Africa business confidence falls for third straight quarter – survey
• Ivory Coast issues 7-yr 100 bln CFA franc ($174 mln) bond
• Uganda shilling strengthens amid a decline of appetite for hard currency
• Nigeria LNG offers December cargo – sources
• South Africa airways needs $540 mln in working capital from next month
• South Africa’s Nampak FY profit rises 15 pct

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