By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Pound soars, Asian shares rally after Brexit deal changes
• MSCI Asia ex-Japan +1 pct; Nikkei up 1.9 pct
• Pound gains 0.5 pct on ‘last chance’ Brexit deal
• China bluechips add 1.3 pct

Oil Markets

• Oil prices rise on OPEC’s supply cuts and healthy demand
• Venezuela’s crisis also supports crude prices
• Brent up 0.3 pct at $66.76 per barrel (0012GMT)
• WTI up 0.4 pct at $56.99 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold inches down as updated Brexit deal improves risk appetite
• Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,293.17 per ounce (0104GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.1 pct at $1,292.90 an ounce

Grains

• Wheat edges away from 14-mth low
• But tepid global demand caps wheat gains
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.2 pct at $4.29-1/4 per bushel (0100GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 0.1 pct at $3.62-1/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures little changed at $8.90-1/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.72 per hundredweight

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

• France’s Macron 2-day visit to Ethiopia
• South Africa’s state capture inquiry continues
• South Africa’s PIC inquiry continues
• Nigeria’s parliament resumes
• Misconduct trial of suspended Nigeria chief justice Onnoghen continues
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa in Harare for 3^rd SA-Zimbabwe binational commission

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

• Results of Ethiopia crash investigation needed before conclusions drawn – IATA head
• Panama’s Copa Airlines says awaiting results of Ethiopia crash probe
• CERAWEEK – Barkindo says OPEC has helped US shale, as the two plan to meet again
• US says 737 MAX safe to fly after Ethiopia crash; Boeing shares dip
• As China prevails, France’s Macron shuffles his cards in Djibouti
• Algeria’s Bouteflika abandons re-election bid after weeks of protest
• France says welcomes Bouteflika decision not to seek fifth term in Algeria
• Canada will take action once cause of Ethiopia plane crash known – minister
• New constitution for Algeria will be submitted to a referendum
• Adviser to Niger official arrested in Guinea Bissau cocaine bust
• Noureddine Bedoui is Algeria’s new prime minister – Ennahar tv
• Africa Crude – Angolan clears slowly
• Prize-winning author, 21 UN workers among dead in Ethiopia Airlines crash
• Royal Air Maroc grounds Boeing 737 MAX 8 after Ethiopian crash
• Violence sparks first major humanitarian crisis in Burkina Faso
• After Ethiopia crash horror, some nations ground Boing 737 MAX 8s
• Ethiopia plane smoked and shuddered before deadly plunge
• South Africa’s rand firms on improved risk appetite, Naspers lift stocks
• South Africa’s Comair takes Boeing 737 MAX off schedules
• Nigeria elections have “systemic failings”, need serious reform – EU
• Zambia external debt rose to over $10 bln at end 2018 – finmin
• IEA sees US leading global oil supply growth to 2024
• Sudan’s parliament cuts state of emergency to 6 months
• Algeria’s biggest labour union says change is necessary but must be peaceful
• Ex-Congo VP seeks damages from war crimes court
• Qatar Petroleum takes stake in Mozambique exploration block
• Algeria clerics urge religious affairs minister to stop pressuring them to make pro-govt sermons – clerics leader
• Zimbabwe cenbank head hints at more weakening of new currency
• Algeria justice minister urges judges to remain neutral
• Dozens of militants killed in shootouts in Egypt’s Sinai – military
• Cockpit voice recorder, digital flight data recorder from Ethiopia Airlines flight recovered
• Tobacco auctions could move exchange rate for Zimbabwe’s transitional currency – cenbank gov
• Willis is broker on Ethiopia Airlines – spokewoman
• Algeria judges refuse to oversee vote if Bouteflika participates – statement
• Zimbabwe annual inflation to fall by as much as 15 pct by end of year – cenbank gov
• Uganda shilling unchanged, biased on stronger side
• South Africa’s Old Mutual FY profit drops; co plans $138 mln buyback
• Kenya shilling strengthens against the dollar
• Libyans fear showdown as eastern commander eyes capital
• Barclays Bank Kenya says 2018 full year pre-tax profit rises to 10.65 bln shillings
• South Africa’s Absa bank full-year earnings dip

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