By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Stocks pin hopes on Sino-US talks, as year ends deep in the red
• Trump claims progress in trade talk with Xi
• Almost all Asian share indices in red for the year
• Biggest loser was China blue chips, India a rare gainer
• Bonds finishing strongly as market bets Fed is done

Oil Markets

• Oil prices rise, but set for first annual decline since 2015
• Brent crude futures up 0.3 pct at $53.38 a barrel (0115GMT)
• US WTI crude futures up 0.4 pct at $45.52 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold inches lower as US-China trade talks boost risk appetite
• Spot gold down marginallly at $1,280.20 per ounce (0048GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,282 per ounce

Grains

• US soy rises to over 1-week high on US-China trade hopes
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.1 pct at $5.12 per bushel (0148GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 0.2 pct at $3.76-1/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.5 pct at $9.00-1/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures up 1 pct at $10.41 per hundredweight

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

• South Africa M3 data for Nov-18 expected [fcst. 5.7% yy, prev. 6.0%]
• South Africa PSCE data for Nov-18 due [fcst. 5.3% yy, prev. 5.8%]

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

• Congo opposition cries foul after presidential poll blighted by mishaps
• 2-yr sentence upheld for Egyptian activist who posted critical video
• Ebola-hit Congolese town stages mock vote to protest at ban
• Congo police officer and civilian killed in fight over alleged voting fraud
• Egypt expects 5^th tranche of IMF loan in January
• French, Niger troops kill Islamist insurgents in joint operation
• US medic quarantined in Nebraska for possible ebola exposure
• Morocco arrests Swiss national in connection with killing of Scandinavians
• Hundreds flee Islamist attacks in northeast Nigeria to seek refuge in Maiduguri
• Egyptian forces kill 40 suspected militants after tourist bus bombed
• Nigeria ruling party launched President Buhari’s re-election campaign
• Sudan security forces use tear gas to disperse anti-govt protesters
• Sierra Leone arrests former defence minister in graft crackdown
• Eritrea closes border crossing to Ethiopians, official and residents say
• WHO says progress against ebola in Congo will be lost if violence goes on
• Africa Crude – Chinese demand subdued, sellers stay on sidelines
• Unidentified gunmen kill 10 gendarmes in Burkina Faso
• Congo cartoonist prepares to sketch a new president
• South Africa’s trade balance swings to 3.5 bln rand surplus in November
• Sudan security forces disperse protesters near Khartoum
• Libyan oil revenue dips to $2.4 bln in November – NOC
• Congo opposition leader Fayulu takes clear lead ahead of Sunday’s election
• Sudan detains 9 opposition leaders ahead of planned protest

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