By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Trump & Xi agree on 90-day truce to negotiate
• Relief for risk appetite and emerging markets
• Aussie dollar jumps, yuan gains on dollar
• Focus on testimony from Fed’s Powell later in week

Oil Markets

• Oil prices rise after US, China agree to hold off on new tariffs
• Brent crude oil futures up 2.2 pct at $60.77 a barrel (2307GMT, 2 Dec)
• US WTI crude oil futures up 2.7 pct at $52.37 per barrel

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

• UN climate change conference in Poland; Nigeria’s Buhari attending
• South Africa Q3 GDP data, Namibia & Botswana MPC decisions during the week
• South Africa’s state capture inquiry to continue
• Nigeria’s leading opposition presidential candidate Abubakar to flag off campaign

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

• Saudi crown prince arrives in Algeria
• Soccer – Raja Casablanca win African Confederation Cup
• Nigeria’s Buhari denies dying and being replaced by lookalike
• Beyonce leads all-star line-up at Mandela tribute concert
• Emphasis on urgency as climate talks begin in coal city Katowice
• Germany seeks private funds for climate projects in Africa, elsewhere – newspaper
• UN condemns spate of “brutal” sexual attacks in South Sudan
• Four Libyan oil export ports reopen after closures for bad weather
• Saudi crown prince arrives Mauritania
• US military says strike kills nine militants in Somalia
• Egyptian film star charged with ‘inciting immorality’ for wearing see-through dress
• Iluka resumes operations at Sierra Leone rutile mine as strike ends
• Employees of Indian firm held by Ethiopian staff say fears for safety
• IMF agrees new loan programme for Sierra Leone
• Short of time, Somalia delays landmark regional vote as tensions rise
• Egyptian tax change could spur banks to step up private lending
• Rwanda’s economy to grow 7.2 pct this year – IMF
• Madagascar president concedes defeat in polls – statement
• Saudi crown prince meets South African president on sidelines of G20
• Egypt to stop discounted customs exchange rate for some imports
• Soccer – Cameroon stripped of right to host 2019 African Nations Cup
• Oil workers’ discontent a risk for Libyan output surge
• Orange says Niger orders offices shut over tax dispute
• Italian foreign minister summons Egyptian ambassador over Regeni murder
• Kenyan charity holds pageant to affirm dignity of people with albinism
• Nigeria’s Diamond Bank sees no need to refinance $200 mln eurobond at maturity
• Congo minister says threat against US facilities is serious
• Africa Crude – Spot limited as Chinese interest stalls
• Losses at Naspers’ e-commerce unit narrow but Tencent still dominates
• Unknown gunmen rape 125 women in South Sudan – aid agency
• US strike kills 11 suspected Qaeda militants in Libya – Africom
• Campaigners in Kenya challenge Marie Stopes abortion ban in court
• Egyptian women race in Cairo to campaign for end to violence
• WHO says spread of polio remains international health emergency
• South Africa’s main iron ore export rail link closed until Dec. 9
• South Africa’s Naspers H1 profit jumps 39 pct
• South Africa’s trade deficit widens to 5.55 bln rand in October
• South Africa’s High Court rejects white farmers’ challenge to land expropriation plans
• South Africa’s Zuma wants arms deal corruption charges set aside
• Oil workers’ discontent threatens Libyan output surge
• Kenya’s inflation edges up to 5.58 pct in November
• Nigeria central bank to boost FX sale after naira eases on black market
• Transnet shuts main iron ore export rail link after accident
• South Africa’s Zuma wants arms deal corruption charges set aside
• Rwanda’s Bank of Kigali to set aside $40 mln for lending to firms
• More firms show interest in South Africa’s Clover
• Kenyan shilling gains ground, horticulture inflows help
• South African Eskom implements power cuts for second day
• Kenya’s Nairobi Business Ventures to list 15 mln additional shares
• Kenya’s HF Group warns of lower FY profit, posts 9-mth loss
• Enough poor children: Africans call for diversity in aid campaigns
• Rising number of ‘skeletal’ children as CAR violence surges

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