By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares jolted by weak Chinese data, growth risks
• Worries about US-China collision also keep investor on edge
• Euro almost flat a day after ECB ends QE but keeps reinvestments

Oil Markets

• Oil prices dip, but expectations of tightening supply support
• Brent crude oil futures down 0.6 pct at $61.06 per barrel (0135GMT)
• US WTI crude futures down 0.3 pct at $52.42 pr barrel (0118GMT)

Grains

• Soybeans fall to 8-day low, on course for 2^nd straight weekly loss
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.4 pct at $5.34 per bushel (0130GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.2 pct at $3.83-1/2 per bushel
• Most active soy futures down 0.4 pct at $9.03-3/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures down about 0.1 pct at $10.45 per hundredweight

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

• Nigeria’s Vice-presidential debate today
• Nigeria inflation data for Nov-18 expected [fcst. 11.4% yy, prev. 11.3%]

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

• US to counter China, Russia influence in Africa – Bolton
• UN climate talks produce draft text in final push
• Tunisia’s parliament rejects bill on lifting retirement age
• Nigerian comic creates heroes with albinism to end ritual murders
• Congo fire destroys thousands of voting machines for presidential election
• Tunisia doctors protest against wage disclosure
• Eskom debt swap not an option – South Africa’s Ramaphosa
• Africa Crude – Burst of spot trade mops up Nigerian cargoes
• Bolton frustrated Western Sahara conflict has not been resolved
• Somalia arrests ex-Islamist militant running for regional presidency
• Hundreds of Egyptian Christians protest at police killing
• Sierra Leone’s sick suffer untreated as doctors strike
• South Africa’s Eskom says more power cuts unlikely until January
• Kenyan court convicts ex-police officer of murder in killing of detainee
• Hike in record-dry months for Africa’s Sahel worries scientists
• Nigeria files $1.1 bln London lawsuit against Shell, Eni over oil deal
• Nigeria’s president asks to present budget to parliament on Dec 19 – house speaker
• Congo fire destroyed materials for 19 of capital’s 24 polling districts
• Gunmen kill more than 40 Tuaregs in ongoing Mali violence
• Zimbabwe mining minister invites De Beers, Vast Resources to return
• Eritrean leader pays first visit to Somalia, seeking closer ties
• Sibanye-Stillwater extends wage agreement to striking gold workers
• Remittances, charity flows strengthen Ugandan shilling
• Egypt wants World Bank, IMF to quantify informal sector in GDP
• MTN, Nigerian central bank dispute will be over ‘very soon’ – regulator
• Gold Fields restart production in South Africa as workers return
• Egypt’s Hassan Allam Holding aims to float shares in H1 – sources
• PZ Cussons warns of weakening demand, Nigeria challenges
• Egypt’s Pharos Holding says set to launch microfinance services
• Amplats expects 20 pct jump in full-year earnings
• South Africa’s Group Five gets interest for parts of business
• South Africa’s Afrox looks to trim cost base, forecasts lower 2018 earnings
• Militia leader’s bravado shows limits of Libya reforms

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