By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares off 4-mth high as China data disappoints
• Caixin/Markit PMI falls to 3-yr low of 48.3
• Trump says will meet Xi soon to seal a trade deal
• China says talks made “important progresss”

Oil Markets

• Oil caught between trade talk hopes, weak China data
• US sanctions against Venezuela hit crude exports
• Brent crude futures up 3 cents by $60.87 per barrel (0244GMT)
• US WTI crude futures down 9 cents at $53.70 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold near 9-mth highs on Fed; trade optimism caps gains
• Spot gold steady at $1,321.14 per ounce (0106GMT)
• US gold futures little changed at $1,320.10 per ounce

Grains

• Soybeans firm as market eyes US-China trade breakthrough
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.2 pct at $5.15-3/4 per bushel (0208GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 0.1 pct at $3.77 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.7 pct at $9.21-1/2 per bushel
• Most active rice futures up 0.1 pct at $10.62 per hundredweight

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

• 20^th EAC summit today in Arusha, Tanzania; finally
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• South Africa ABSA manufacturing PMI data for Jan-19 expected [prev. 50.7]
• Nigeria manufacturing PMI data for Jan-19 due [prev. 61.1]
• Nigeria non-manufacturing PMI data for Jan-19 expected [prev. 62.3]
• South Africa total new vehicles sales for Jan-19 due [prev. 39.98K]

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

• US imposes visa restrictions on Ghana
• Emerging assets post best month in years with late boost from Fed
• UN security council to review CAR arms embargo by end-Sept
• Colombia recovers bodies of 12 African migrants drowned in accident
• Looking for friends, Sudan’s Bashir reopens Eritrea border
• Romania to replace Canada in Mali peacekeeping mission – Ottawa
• Nigeria’s pan-African bank UBA expands to Mali
• Telecom Egypt co. appoints Adel Hamed as CEO – statement
• Africa Crude – Nigerian crude diffs teeter as high prices deter buyers
• South African rand climbs to 5-mth high on dovish Fed
• Egypt shares jump 4.6 pct this week on expectations of a rate cut
• South Africa’s indebted public broadcaster SABC scraps layoffs
• Aid effort brings little relief for migrants trapped in Libya
• Trans-Gambia bridge a boon for trade, but a blow for local traders
• South Africa’s Edcon needs $226 mln capital injection over 3 years – CEO
• South Africa’s Vodacom faces protests over call-back service compensation
• Zimbabwe’s public sector baulks on strike, teachers to stop work
• South Africa union says to strike over Eskom split proposal
• Kenyan & Ugandan currencies seen trading firmer next week
• Kenya bomber’s journey offers cautionary tale of intelligence failures
• South Africa’s trade surplus widens in December
• Climate shocks threaten gains against HIV in Africa, researchers say
• Libyan forces arrest suspected Islamic State member in Sirte
• Uganda shilling in firm position on back of end-month flows
• Kenya inflation falls to 4.7 pct in January, helped by lower transport costs
• Botswana’s first private coal mine to produce saleable coal in March
• South Africa’s Eskom says 3 power plants have below 10 days of coal stockpiles
• Kenya bank NIC to merge with Commercial Bank of Africa
• Sudan’s Bashir says border with Eritrea, shut for a year, reopens
• Kenya shilling seen easing against the dollar
• Zimbabwe’s public sector union backs down on strike, cites volatile situation
• South Africa’s Exxaro aims to double coal exports through Richard’s Bay by 2023
• Rapes by Zimbabwe troops go unreported as victims fear reprisals
• Central banks bought more gold in 2018 than any year since 1967 – WGC

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