By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares ride relief rally, Sino-US trade a hurdle
• Nikkei off to a strong start after Wall St rally
• Fed stresses patience on policy, market leans toward rate cut
• Safe-haven yen eases back, dollar otherwise lower
• Investors eye Sino-US trade talks in Beijing

Oil Markets

• Oil rises on trade talks and supply cuts, but economic slowdown looms
• Record US output weighs on crude
• Brent up 1.2 pct at $57.77 per barrel (0227GMT)
• US WTI crude futures up 1.4 pct at $48.65

Precious metals

• Gold prices inch down as Fed stance revises risk appetite
• Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,284.05 per ounce (0053GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,285.10 per ounce

Grains

• Soybeans hit 3-wk high as US, China meet for trade talks
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.1 pct at $5.17-1/2 per bushel (0133GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.1 pct at $3.82-3/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.2 pct at $9.23-3/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.48 per hundredweight

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

• Guinea to take a second parliamentary vote today on whether to legalise polygamy; after making it an option in first vote
• Nigerian labour unions to meet with authorities again today on minimum wage dispute ahead of potential strike action on Tuesday
• Nigeria’s Buhari to inaugurate campaign organisation today
• South Africa’s SACCI business confidence data for December expected [prev. 96.1]
• Top officials of South Africa’s ruling ANC to visit various regions today for grassroot mobilisation activities

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

• Egypt’s Sisi acknowledges close coordination with Israel in Sinai
• Nigerian military raids paper after Boko Haram article
• Libya’s oil revenue rose to $24.4 bln in 2018 – NOC
• Palestinian Authority pulls employees from Egypt-Gaza crossing
• Egypt’s Sisi opens mega-mosque and Middle East’s largest cathedral in new capital
• Sudan security forces arrest Khartoum University lecturers – professors
• Nigerian militant group claims ‘warning’ strike on Conoil facility
• Egypt sells $854 mln in 1-yr dollar t-bills – cbank
• Egypt explosives expert killed defusing bomb near church in Cairo – state TV
• Congo election results delayed past Sunday deadline due to slow arrival of vote tallies
• UN divided over how to react to Congo’s election problems
• Zambia Vedanta unit halts operations at underground mine on tax concerns
• Nigeria’s Buhari says electoral commissioner is related by marriage
• Congo’s electoral commission slams Catholic Church over vote comment
• Fearing Congo violence, US deploys small military force to Gabon
• Tests show suspected Swedish ebola patient not infected
• Tunisia’s 2018 inflation rises to 7.5 pct
• Libya authorities seeking 37 suspects over attacks on oil, military facilities
• School girls in Kenya undergo compulsory tests for pregnancy, FGM
• Dozens protest near Khartoum, organisers say leader detained
• Angola central bank withdraws licenses of 2 small lenders
• UN chief regrets Somalia envoy expulsion, will send replacement
• Dozens killed in ethnic violence in Burkina Faso
• Ex-Credit Suisse bankers arrested on US charges over Mozambique loans
• Africa Crude – Angolan cargoes trade, some offers lowered
• Congo’s internet shutdown after election could cause violent backlash – UN
• Zimbabwe strike not called off – doctor’s representative
• Zimbabwe lays off more than 3,000 civil servants
• Congo slashes cobalt output estimate for Jan-Sept 2018
• Zambia says audit shows mining firms in arrears to govt
• Sudan unrest disrupts Bashir’s push for vital financial support
• Decline in South Africa’s private sector eases, fanning recovery hopes – PMI
• Kenyan shilling steady, draws support from remittances
• Uganda growth seen climbing to 7 pct in 3-5 years – cbank
• Solar-pumped water slakes rural Kenya’s thirst for development

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