By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia shares ease as doubts emerge over Sino-US trade war truce
• MSCI Asia-pacific ex-Japan index down 0.2 pct
• Japan’s Nikkei down 0.3 pct
• Spot gold flat at $1,231.11 per ounce

Oil Markets

• Oil prices extend gains on expected OPEC-led production cuts
• OPEC, Russia need to cut 1.3 mln bpd to balance market – Goldman
• Canada’s mandated supply cut also supports prices
• Soaring US output is OPEC’s biggest headache
• Texas no produces more oil than Iraq – Barclays
• Brent crude oil futures up 0.7 pct at $62.09 per barrel (0137GMT)
• US WTI crude futures up 0.8 pct at $53.35 per barrel

Grains

• Soybean prices fall from highest in nearly 6 mths on doubts over trade war
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.3 pct at $5.19-1/2 per bushel (0114GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.3 pct at $3.80-3/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures down 0.2 pct at $9.04 per bushel
• Most active rice futures up 0.6 pct at $10.91 per hundredweight

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

• UN climate change conference in Poland; Nigeria’s Buhari attending
• Nigeria’s Buhari to be in focus as deadline for signing amended electoral bill looms
• South Africa Q3 2018 GDP data due [fcst. 0.4% qq saa, prev. -0.7%]
• Botswana interest rate decision expected [fcst. 5.0%, prev. 5.0%]
• South Africa’s state capture inquiry continues

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

• US aid group to help develop Islamic microfinance in Ethiopia
• US to reopen Congo embassy after “terrorist threat”
• Sudan allows local private sector firms to export gold
• Zimbabwe doctors strike again for better pay as economy struggles
• Egyptian court orders release of prominent blogger – judicial source
• Congo declares cobalt “strategic”, nearly tripling royalty rate
• Bouteflika unable to receive Saudi crown prince due to flu – presidency
• Uganda holds special court sessions on sex crimes to cut backlog
• Africa Crude – Tenders keep sellers at bay, Nigerian market swamped
• Congo state miner in production-sharing deal with Chinese firm
• Deadly ranch invasion shows land-use conflicts in Kenya – experts
• Uber’s Middle East rival Careem launches bus-booking service in Egypt
• Soccer-Sierra Leone’s disqualification from Nations Cup boosts Kenya, Ghana
• Millions flock to free tests as Egypt seeks to eradicate hepatitis C
• Armed with coffee, Uganda’s women, youth look to secure land tenure
• South Africa faces more power cuts, raising Ramaphosa reform risk
• African migrants turn to deadly ocean route as options narrow
• Nigeria’s Buhari denies dying and being replaced by lookalike
• South Africa court paves way for class action against Tiger Brands
• Ugandan shilling steady amid muted banks and importer demand
• South Africa’s Absa PMI rises for the first time in 3 months
• Kenyan shilling under pressure amid demand from importers ahead of holiday season
• Egypt’s EFG Hermes advising on four M&A deals expected in H1 2019

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