By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia bulls dare to hope on trade talks, stimulus
• Nikkei rises to 2019 high after Wall St gains
• Investors wager on progress at Sino-US talks in Washington
• Signs mount major central banks turning reflationary

Oil Markets

• Oil hits 2019-high on OPEC supply cuts, US sanctions on Iran & Venezuela
• Brent up 0.3 pct at $66.47 a barrel (0051GMT)
• WTI up 0.5 pct at $55.89 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold at 2-wk high on trade deal hopes; palladium peaks
• Spot gold up 0.3 pct at $1,324.80 per ounce (0324GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.4 pct at $1,327.8 an ounce

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

• South Africa state capture inquiry to resume for the week; testimony from national treasury team to be heard

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

• Hit by wilder weather, Botswana’s farmers seek welfare payments
• Tunisia workers kidnapped in Libya have been freed – foreign ministry
• Mozambique ex-president’s son arrested in $2 bln fraudulent debt case
• Kenya summons its ambassador to Somalia as territorial row escalates
• Nigeria candidate says delayed presidential vote could be compromised
• Egypt’s Pyramids turned into marathon venue
• Paramount Group in talks to develop Africa’s defence industry
• Sudan fruit seller dies choking on tear gas fired at protesters – family
• South Africa sseeks to reopen costly renewables deals to help Eskom
• South Africa wants lower power prices from older renewables projects – minister
• Tunisia police and protesters clash after death at police station
• Nigeria presidential poll postponed, oppostion slams decision
• 15 Egypt troops killed or wounded in North Sinai – military
• NBA and FIBA to launch pro league in Africa
• Zimbabwe rescuers pull 22 bodies from mine, 8 more found alive
• Islamic State claims North Sinai attack, says 20 Egyptian troops killed
• Athletics – Ethiopia’s Tefera breaks world indoor 1,500m record
• Nigeria commission says transport delays behind vote postponement
• Sahel instability spreading to coastal West Africa – Burkina Faso
• Congo’s Virunga park reopens eight months after deadly ambush
• Sudan lawmakers postpone amendment to keep Bashir in power
• Nigeria opposition candidate accuses govt of hoping to disenfranchise electorate
• Nigeria opposition candidate Atiku Abubakar urges voters to be patient
• Nigeria’s president appeals for calm after election delay
• Zimbabwe rescuers pull out 8 trapped miners alive
• Nigeria presidential election postponed to Feb. 23 – INEC chair
• Nigeria presidential election could be delayed in some areas – diplomatic, govt sources
• Sudan policeman dies from wounds after protesters stone vehicle – spokesman
• Tunsia oil refinery workers kidnapped in Libya – activist
• Morocco set on capping fuel price despite regulator’s disapproval
• Kenya activist death in botched abortion spotlights ‘killer’ backstreet clinics
• South African Airways to pay Comair $78 mn to settle competition case
• Frustrated relatives lose hope of finding trapped Zimbabwe miners alive
• Africa Crude – Nigerian trade pauses ahead of election
• Anadarko closes in on final Mozambique LNG decision
• Tunisia economy grew 2.5 pct in 2018 vs 1.9 pct in 2017
• Citgo Petroleum to dismiss workers in Aruba over US sanctions – prime minister
• South African rand heads for over 3 pct weekly loss on power crisis
• South Africa ex-ambassador to Iran arrested in MTN investigation
• South Africa says has up to 60 tcf of offshore gas potential
• Ex-Mozambique finance minister denied bail in South Africa
• South Africa withdraws arrest warrant for Zuma friend Gupta
• Egypt thwarts bomb attack on Cairo security sources – ministry
• MTN Group reiterates no money was given to ex-ambassador to Iran
• Anadarko closes in on final Mozambique LNG decision with another supply deal
• Morocco’s competition council advises against fuel price cap
• Rape still endemic with South Sudan’s Unity state despite peace –UN
• Nigeria’s suspended chief judge charged as election nears
• Uganda shilling steady; forecast to weaken due to importer dollar demand
• Ex-intelligence head, chair of 3 state-run companies arrested in Mozambique – source
• Grand parade to close Dunkin’, Baskin Robbins in South Africa
• Uganda deports MTN CEO over ‘national security’ concerns
• Kenya shilling in firm position amid offshore investor flows
• Nigeria inflation falls to 11.37 pct in January as election nears
• Zimbabwe inflation quickens to 56.9 percent in January
• South Africa’s Eskom suspends power cuts but warns system vulnerable
• South Africa’s Gold Fields FY proft slumps as production drops
• US military denies taking part in raid on al Qaeda site in Libya

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