By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Stocks run with Sino-US trade hopes; sterling hamstrung by politics
• Trump says trade talks ongoing with China, could act on Huawei
• Asia markets push higher, but have been disappointed before
• Pound hits 20-mth low as British PM risks party challenge
• Oil prices bounce after big draw in stockpiles

Oil Markets

• Oil prices rise as OPEC-led supply cuts expected to stabilise markets
• Brent crude oil futures up 1.2 pct at $60.89 per barrel (0212GMT)
• US WTI crude futures up 1.2 pct at $52.25 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold holds firm on easing rate hike expectations
• Spot gold up 0.1 pct at $1,244.40 per ounce (0115GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.2 pct at $1,249.9 per ounce

Grains

• US soybeans extend gains after Trump says China back in market
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.6 pct at $5.24 per bushel (0147GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 0.1 pct at $3.85-1/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.4 pct at $9.18-1/2 per bushel
• Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.65 per hundredweight

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

• Jamhuri day in Kenya today; Kenyatta & Odinga to lead celebrations
• South Africa inflation data for November due [fcst. 5.3% yy, prev. 5.1%]
• South Africa retail sales data for November expected [fcst. 2.8% yy, prev. 0.7%]

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

• Egyptian lawyer held for wearing yellow vest as sales restricted – activist
• Nigerian opposition candidate absent from election accord ceremony
• War, hunger and a housing boom: welcome to Africa’s most crowded city
• Tanzania to sign deal this week for $3 bln power plant – president
• France gives weapons to Central Africa, favours end to embargo
• Africa Crude – More Angolan sold, Nigerian lingers
• Ghana could cut interest rates by March – central bank gov
• Anglo forecasts copper, diamonds and platinum to lift output
• Zambia’s chamber of mines sees 21,000 job cuts due to higher taxes
• Botswana’s Mowana copper mine suspends operations over working capital
• Egypt’s El Sewedy Electric to borrow $500 mln from Afreximbank
• Climate policies put world on track for 3.3C warming – study
• South Africa’s manufacturing output jumps, boosting rand
• Kenya struggles to give life to futuristic ‘Silicon Savannah’ city
• South Africa’s October manufacturing output rises 3 pct
• Kenyan shilling steady, remittance dollar flows meet importer demand
• Liquid Telecom gets $180 mln from UK for pan-African fibre network
• Ugandan shilling flat, dollar flows from charities, exporters meet demand
• Somalia’s GDP growth seen expanding to 3.1 pct in 2018 – IMF

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