By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia stocks firm, euro sags after dovish ECB
• Asia stocks hit 7-week high, supported after US techs surge
• Markets brace for events such as US-China trade talks
• Euro near 6-wk low after dovish comments from ECB Draghi

Oil Markets

• Oil price jump as US threatens sanctions against Venezuela
• Amid turmoil, Washington threatens Venezuela with oil sanctions
• Global oil markets well supplied as US output surges
• Barclays cuts 2019 oil price forecast
• Brent crude futures up 1.3 pct at $61.89 a barrel (0246GMT)
• US WTI crude futures up 1.5 pct at $53.90 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold firm on global growth worries, US govt shutdown
• Spot gold firm at $1,280.66 per ounce (0059GMT)
• US gold futures steady at $1,279.90 per ounce

Grains

• Soybeans edge lower as US warns trade deal with China “miles away”
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.2 pct at $5.20-1/4 per bushel (0143GMT)
• Most active corn futures unchanged at $3.77 per bushel
• Most active soy futures down 0.2 pct at $9.14-1/2 per bushel
• Most active rice futures down about 0.1 pct at $10.67 per hundredweight

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

• Final day of Ghana central bank MPC meeting; announcement of decision on Monday
• Zimbabwe civil servants may go on industrial action today

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

• Protests rock Sudanese cities, one more dead
• South Sudan soldiers “unhealthy” due to food theft – Kiir
• Sudan protests death toll rises to 29 – investigatory committee
• 8 years after uprising, Egyptians say freedoms have eroded
• Zimbabwe declares popular musician Mtukudzi national hero
• Nigerian Chibok girls’ champion Ezekwesili quits presidential race
• Africa Crude – Nigerian holds strong, tenders in focus
• Madagascar names new finance minister, part of a leaner cabinet
• Cairo book fair’s gleaming new site opens far from historic market
• Nigerian court gives order to stop trial of top judge
• South African rand firms; Vodacom slumps on revenue slowdown
• New Congo president Tshisekedi calls for unity after divisive election
• Zimbabw army says “bogus” soldiers behind beatings
• Ebola survivors turn disease fighters as Congo outbreak rages on
• New Congo president resumes inaugural address after being taken ill
• DAVOS – Boss of South Africa’s Absa bank rules out Nigerian acquisition
• Algeria economic growth up to 2.3 pct in 2018 – finmin
• South Africa’s Eskom should be split, experts to tell president – sources
• Protests break out in Sudanese cities, police fire tear gas – witnesses
• Member of Sudan intelligence service killed in clash with army troops – statement
• South Africa’s RBCT says 2018 coal exports fall
• South Africa withdraw corruption charges against Zuma’s son
• Russia’s Alrosa, China’s Anjin to mine Zimbabwe diamonds – newspaper
• Uganda leader wants MTN to list shares on local exchange
• Kenya shilling gains supported by remittances, investors buying debt
• Anglo says Q4 copper output at 5-yr high
• South African consumer confidence holds steady – survey
• South Africa’s Vodacom reports quarterly slowdown in growth
• South Sudan embraces old enemy Sudan, now rocked by protests

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