By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia shares stumble, sterling at mercy of yet another vote
• Nikkei slips over 1 pct, China stocks in the red
• Sterling on knife-edge ahead of another Brexit vote
• Dow weighed down by 2^nd day of losses for Boeing

Oil Markets

• Oil firms as Saudis trim exports, US output forecast reduced
• Brent up 0.4 pct at $66.93 a barrel (0039GMT)
• WTI up 0.5 pct at $57.17 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold hits near 2-wk high on Brexit woes, weaker dollar
• Spot gold up 0.2 pct at $1,303.74 an ounce (0130GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.4 pct at $1,303.80 an ounce

Grains

• Wheat slips on ample global stocks, bleak demand
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.6 pct at $4.50-1/2 per bushel (0136GMT)
• Most active corn futures up about 0.1 pct at $3.66 per bushel
• Most active soy futures down about 0.1 pct at $8.96-1/2 per bushel
• Most active rice futures up 0.1 pct at $10.75 per hundredweight

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

• South Africa’s state capture inquiry continues
• South Africa’s PIC inquiry continues
• Nigeria’s senate to start debate on 2019 budget proposal
• South Africa’s political parties to announce candidate lists; IEC deadline for submission today
• 2^nd day of France’s Macron visit to Ethiopia

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

• South Africa’s Libstar full-year earnings fall on impairment hit
• Hungry for change, Algerians press old guard to step aside
• Ethiopia, France sign military, navy deal, turn ‘new page’ in ties
• US says it backs Algeria efforts to chart new path after Bouteflika
• Veteran diplomat set to guide Algeria’s transition after protests
• South Sudan dismisses gang rape accusations, asks for peace funding
• Nigeria’s ruling party takes close lead in governor elections, but balance could tip
• Africa Crude – Nembe Creek pipeline resumes, Angolan trade slows
• Uganda, Saipem agree next steps for refinery
• Egyptians put the breaks on new car purchases in push for lower prices
• Nigeria’s Access Bank gets $162.5 mln loan to support local business
• South Africa’s FirstRand CEO says likely to shrink branches
• More than 500 Banunu killed in attacks by rival ethnic group in DR Congo – UN investigation
• African Bank appoints ex-Liberty Holdings CEO as chairman
• Tanzania sees overall spending up slightly in 2019-20 – finmin
• Kenya’s president signs petroleum law outlining revenue sharing
• Macron warns of Chinese risk to African sovereignty
• 1 man killed, Lebanese construction worker kidnapped in Nigerian city
• South Africa’s Group Five in business rescue after lenders pull plug
• South Africa considers financial options to help Zimbabwe revive economy
• Kenya’s Safaricom secures deal to use m-pesa payments on AliEXpress.com
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa says ready to help Zimbabwe revive economy
• Uganda shilling weakens on demand from energy firms
• Bouteflika’s decision is biggest turning point since independence – deputy PM
• Kenya shilling weakens against the dollar
• UN says killings in Congo ethnic clashes may be crimes against humanity
• Heatwave threatens to slash harvests in drought-hit Zimbabwe
• Ethiopia crash bodies will take days to release
• Diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi to chair transitional conference on Algeria – source
• Macron calls for ‘reasonable’ transition in Algeria
• South Africa’s FirstRand reports higher HY earnings
• Results of Ethiopia crash investigation needed before conclusions drawn – IATA head

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