By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares subdued as US political standoff, ECB decision eyed
• MSCI ex-Japan slips into the red, Nikkei down 0.4 pct
• China’s CSI, Hong Kong’s HSI down slightly
• Bank of Korea leaves benchmark rate steady
• Sterling hits 11-wk high vs dollar

Oil Markets

• Oil prices steady, but global growth worries hold sway
• Brent crude futures up 3 cents at $61.17 per barrel (0124GMT)
• US WTI crude futures up 3 cents at $52.63 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold up as growth concerns, US govt shutdown weigh on dollar
• Spot gold up 0.2 pct at $1,284.35 per ounce (0118GMT)
• US gold futures steady at $1,283.80 per ounce

Grains

• Soybeans hold steady, market eyes dry weather in South America
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.4 pct at $5.28-1/4 per bushel (0236GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 0.1 pct at $3.79-1/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures unchanged at $9.15 per bushel
• Most active rice futures down 0.3 pct at $10.73 per hundredweight

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

• DRC’s Tshisekedi inauguration today
• South Africa’s state capture inquiry continues
• Day 2 of Ghana central bank 3-day MPC meeting; decision on Monday

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

• Morocco foreign minister backs dialogue on Syria’s return to Arab league
• Malawi president directs police to crack down on pre-vote violence
• Congo’s Kabila says he is ‘without regret’ ahead of power handover
• Egypt’s non-petroleum exports rose in 2018 to $24.8 bln
• East Libyan forces call UN envoy “opponent”
• Soccer – Egypt’s Ismaily thrown out of Champions League over crowd trouble
• Congo records 1-day record of confirmed ebola cases
• Tunisia’s foreign currency reserves rise after Saudi Arabia loan
• Sudan accepted economic assistance from UAE, Russia and Turkey – oil minister
• Zimbabwe soldiers accused of beatings amid protest crackdown
• Popular Zimbabwe musician Mtukudzi dies
• Africa Crude – Bonny Light, Qua offered at highest since mid-2014
• Qatar emir hosts Bashir, backs “unity” in restive Sudan
• Uganda firm uses blockchain to trace coffee from farms to stores
• US welcomes court certification of new Congo president
• Kenya seeks proposals for issuance of $2.5 bln eurobond – source
• Kenya’s finance ministry confirms it sought eurobond proposals
• Kenya to restrict second-hand imports to boost domestic car sector
• EU approves assistance worth 305 mln euros for Tunisia
• DAVOS – South Africa president assures central bank independence
• France hands CAR war crimes suspect to ICC
• Egypt suspends trading in Global Telecom after shares rise 10 pct – bourse
• Ethiopia arrests ex-minister for mismanagement of funds – FANA
• Uganda shilling firms as energy firms, other buyers stay on sidelines
• Egypt bourse resets SODIC, MNHD prices after merger called off
• Kenya shilling firms against the dollar amid tightening liquidity
• South Africa’s consumer inflation slows to 4.5 pct y/y in December
• Zimbabwe seeks wiser ways to use water amid erratic rains
• First Quantum Minerals scraps plan to cut jobs in Zambia
• Zimbabwe activist pastor seeks bail as hundreds face trial after protests

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