By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Bond yields keep falling, stocks try to steady
• US 10-yr yields hit 15-mth lows, German less than zero
• Equities mixed on worries curve inversion augurs recession
• Sterling slapped as Brexit votes go nowhere

Oil Markets

• Oil extends losses into 2^nd session as US stocks rise
• Brent down 0.3 pct at $67.63 a barrel (0045GMT)
• WTI down 0.4 pct at $59.18 per barrel

Precious metals

• Palladium extends losses, hits 5-wk low as investors book profits
• Spot gold little changed at $1,311.29 per ounce (0541GMT)
• US gold futures steady at $1,310.10 an ounce

Grains

• Soybeans linger near 3-mth low; all eyes on trade talks
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.5 pct at $4.67 per bushel (0344GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.1 pct at $3.73-1/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures unchanged at $8.87-3/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures down 0.6 pct at $11.08 per hundredweight

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

• Togo’s Gnassingbe in South Africa; last day of 3-day working visit
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa launches Business Leadership SA & SA SME CEO fund circle
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• South Africa PIC inquiry continues
• South Africa to decide interest rates [fcst. 6.75%, prev. 6.75%]
• South Africa producer inflation data for Feb 2019
• Nigeria’s Adamawa governorship rerun election to be concluded today
• International Coffee Organisation meeting in Nairobi continues; to 29 Mar
• Uganda’s Museveni to conclude 2-day visit to Mombasa, Kenya
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa to launch special court for gender-based violence
• Kenya central bank governor Njoroge post-MPC press conference

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

• Egypt 2019/20 budget assumes rate of 18 Egyptian pounds to dollar
• South Africa’s rand slides tracking Turkish lira
• South Africa’s Capitec Bank FY profit jumps on strong client growth
• Public mistrust thwarts Congo’s ebola responses as cases climb
• Morocco govt set to sack striking teachers
• Libya’s NOC February revenues down 21 pct on January
• Sudan suspends daily exchange rate setting mechanism – report
• Paris wheat at 2-wk low as Egypt setback cools export hopes
• Half urban population of sub-Saharan Africa still living in slums – study
• Algeria army, police bust militant cell planning attacks – Ennahar TV
• Nigeria aims to borrow at home and abroad to fund 2019 budget – finmin
• Rescued migrants hijack merchant ship off Libya
• Bouteflika’s key allies back army plan to oust him
• South Africa names former Alexander Forbes CEO as head of tax collection agency
• Urban middle class may offer lifeline to rural Africa
• South Africa’s ANC elders criticise “tainted” officials on election list
• South Sudan lawmaker, 2 other killed in ambush
• Amid ruined lives, Mozambique’s cyclone survivors face cholera, diarrhoea
• South Africa mining firms seek charter changes over past black ownership deals
• Algeria’s ruling party backs army’s call for end to Bouteflika’s rule
• Emerging market debt trading fell 7 pct in Q4, dipped in 2018 – EMTA
• UN to investigate massacre of 157 Mali villagers
• Gabon oil workers’ strike halts Vaalco terminal output – union
• Kenya central bank holds main lending rate, says inflation expectations within target
• Namibia’s economy to rebound from recession this year – finmin
• Algeria’s biggest union urges Bouteflika to leave
• Nigeria bond yields drop after surprise central bank rate cut
• South Africa’s Sibanye-Stillwater will consider changing primary listing
• Algeria protests leader rejects army proposal on Bouteflika
• Saudi King Salman meets Libya’s General Haftar
• Algeria’s ruling coalition partner RND urges Bouteflika to resign – statement
• Mozambique says five cases of cholera confirmed after cyclone
• Kenya shilling holds steady against end-mth dollar demand
• Algeria awaits constitutional signal on Bouteflika’s fate
• South Africa’s Steinhoff raises $332 mln from KAP Industrial stake sale

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