By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia stocks calm as China slows, awaits Brexit news
• Asia shares ex-Japan up 0.4 pct, China blue chips advance
• S&P futures little changed with US on holiday
• China GDP slows to 6.4 pct in Q4, industrial output beats
• Market awaits Plan B on Brexit from British PM May

Oil Markets

• Oil rises to 2019 highs on strong China demand despite economic slowdown
• China’s 2018 crude runs hit record 12.12 mln bpd
• Strong demand despite GDP growth at 28-yr low
• OPEC-led supply cuts also support crude prices
• US rig count slows, output rises
• Brent crude futures up 0.4 pct at $62.94 per barrel (0404GMT)
• US WTI crude futures up 0.5 pct at $54.05 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold prices inch up on Fed rate pause hopes
• Spot gold up 0.2 pct at $1,282.71 per ounce (0103GMT)
• US gold futures steady at $1,282.50 per ounce

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

• South Africa’s state capture inquiry continues
• Nigeria’s presidential candidates on the campaign trail

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

• Al Qaeda-linked grou claims responsibility for attack on UN peacekeepers in Mali
• Gap between rich and poor growing, fuelling global anger – Oxfam
• Congo political crisis deepens as top court rejects vote challenge
• Zimbabwe crackdown a taste of things to come, president’s spokesman warns
• African Union postpones Congo talks on contested election
• Israel and Chad revive diplomatic relations, call for closer security ties
• After Westgate debacle, quick end to latest Kenyan attack shows progress
• Sudan unrest enters second month with protests in Omdurman
• Egypt H1 of year to June budget deficit 3.6 pct of GDP – presidency
• Congo opposition candidate Fayulu declares himself president
• Congo top court declares Felix Tshisekedi winner of presidential poll
• News photographer killed in Tripoli clashes
• US says its air strike kills 52 militants who attacked Somali base
• Tunisian union calls new nationwide strike to press wage demands
• Zimbabwe public workers reject latest wage offer after protests
• Kenyan authorities investigate local role in Nairobi attack
• Burkina Faso cabinet resigns – TV statement
• Hundreds detained after Zimbabwe protests as UN denounces crackdown
• Nigeria’s NNPC paid $993.7 mln cash call arrears by September
• Tens of thousands cut off from aid in northeast Nigeria after attack
• Africa Crude – Sonangol said to award term cargoes, Nigerian firm
• South African rand weaker on less hawkish c.bank stance
• Zimbabwe court rules pastor Mawarire to stand trial for subverting govt
• Zimbabwe’s Econet says received govt order to open up internet access
• Jailed ex-Mozambique finmin drops South Africa bail plan
• Eastern Libyan force says it killed senior al Qaeda operative
• As prices soar, Zimbabweans haunted by memories of hyperinflation
• Drought, animal disease threaten South African farmers
• Tunisia to almost double gas production this year
• Saudi Arabia plans oil refinery, petchem plant in South Africa
• ICC delays release of Ivory Coast ex-leader Gbagbo despite acquittal
• SocGen and Absa join forces on wholesale banking in Africa
• Mali’s gold production up 23 pct in 2018
• China Moly to increase stake in Congo’s Tenke copper mine to 80 pct
• Algeria sets April election, no word on Bouteflika candidacy
• Congo rejects AU demand to delay final election result
• UN calls on Zimbabwe to halt crackdown, firing on protesters
• Dozens killed, wounded in wake of Congo election results – UN
• Uganda shilling unchanged as importer demand slows
• Kenya police detain 9 in connection with deadly hotel attack
• South Africa’s Aveng sells water treatment engineering business

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