By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares propped up by hopes for Sino-US trade deal, cautious Fed
• Nikkei gains 1 pct, ex-Japan Asia-Pacific up 0.1 pct
• Optimistic comments on China-US trade talks lifts mood
• Fed’s flexible stance, strong US data underpin shares

Oil Markets

• Oil stable on trade talk optimism and OPEC cuts, but slowdown looms
• OPEC-led crude supply cuts support oil prices
• US crude output could already be above 12 mln bpd – JBC Energy
• Brent crude futures up 0.1 pct at $57.43 per barrel (0218GMT)
• US WTI crude futures up 0.2 pct at $48.62 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold steady as dollar sags on Fed rate pause bets
• SPDR Gold holdings near August highs
• Palladium holding near record highs hit on Monday
• Spot gold little changed at $1,287.70 per ounce (0148GMT)
• US gold futures eased slightly at $1,288 per ounce

Grains

• Soybeans snap winning streak, retreat from 3-wk high
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.2 pct at $5.15-3/4 per bushel (0125GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 0.1 pct at $3.82-3/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures down 0.2 pct at $9.22-1/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures up 0.2 pct at $10.69 per hundredweight

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

• South Africa FX reserves data for December expected [prev. $50.7B]
• South Africa SACCI business confidence data for December due [prev. 96.1]
• South Africa’s ruling ANC’s birthday today; top officials on the road
• Nigeria’s labour unions on countrywide protest today

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

• Ex-president Jammeh was ‘trouble’ for Gambia from the start – 1^st Commission witness
• Mozambique indicts 18 people in connection with $2 bln loan scheme
• More than 800 detained in Sudan protests – govt
• Egypt foreign reserves drop to $42.551 bln in Dec, first time post-devaluation
• Africa Crude – IOC issues new tender, no spot activity
• Strong euro hurts Paris wheat as traders await Algeria tender
• Gabon thwarts military coup attempt in President’s absence
• Zimbabwe teachers to strike over pay as currency crisis deepens
• 2 suspects killed, 7 captured in failed Gabon coup attempt
• Egypt reopens 5 ports shut by bad weather, 2 remain closed
• Tunisia tourism revenues jump by 45 pct with record number of visitors in 2018
• France condemns Gabon coupt attempt, urges its citizens not to move around capital
• Congo mining company leaves ITSCI certification scheme over cost
• Egypt to implement price indexation mechanism on gasoline starting April
• Kenya’s earnings from tourism surge 31.2 pct in 2018
• Ugandan shilling weakens slightly on manufacturing demand
• Gabon dollar bonds tumble amid apparent coup attempt
• Kenyan shilling firms against the dollar
• Egypt’s Sisi acknowledges close coordination with Israel in Sinai
• Nigeria military raids paper after Boko Haram article

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