By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares dip amid caution on global growth, US earnings
• MSCI Asia ex-Japan -0.1 pct
• European shares expected to edge higher
• Volumes seen low ahead of US 1Q earnings season
• Euro jumps on Japan demand

Oil Markets

• Oil prices rise as market tightens, but demand concerns linger
• Brent up 0.2 pct at $71.03 per barrel (0635GMT)
• WTI up 0.4 pct at $63.82 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold prices steady after steep fall
• Spot gold up about 0.1 pct at $1,293.19 per ounce (0123GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.3 pct at $1,296.60 an ounce

Grains

• Soybeans, corn set for weekly losses dismal US exports
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.2 pct at $4.61-1/2 per bushel (0136GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.1 pct at $3.59-1/2 per bushel
• Most active soy futures down 0.1 pct at $8.94-1/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures down 0.1 pct at $10.28 per hundredweight

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

• IMF/World Bank spring meetings; 12-14 Apr
• Ghana’s Akufo-Addo on 5-day nationwide tour
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• Kenya’s Kenyatta in Mauritius; rounding up

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

• Demanding civilian govt, thousands defy military curfew in Sudan
• Libya oil chief warns fighting could “wipe out” crude production – NOC
• Gunmen abduct two Cuban doctors in Kenya
• Auto giants battle used car dealers for Africa’s huge market
• Home market still a dream for African carmakers
• Emerging market nations seek collective solution to trade tensions
• Military ousts Sudan’s Bashir, protesters demand civilian govt
• Nightmares, guilt and awards: 5 years after the Chibok kidnap
• Libya’s NOC chief: oil and gas exports facing the biggest threat since 2011
• Defence minister Ibn Auf to head Sudan’s military transition council – state tv
• US suspends talks with Sudan after military ousts Bashir
• Sudan woman in iconic protest image reports getting death threats
• Tripoli forces take prisoners as EU demands Libya’s Haftar to stop offensive
• US says Sudanese people should be allowed peaceful transition
• Nigeria troops forced 10,000 people to leave northwest town – UN
• South Africa township squalid and neglected despite 25 years of black rule
• EU wheat steady with Chicago as Algeria tender assessed
• Africa Crude – Spot activity grinds to a halt ahead of new programme
• More than 190 eastern Libyan troops taken prisoner – officials
• South Africa clears 3 more accounts of Steinhoff insider trading
• South Sudan frets over whether Sudan coup could derail fragile peace deal
• Turkey’s Erdogan calls for national reconciliation in Sudan
• Ethiopia inquiry shows Boeing MAX hurtling uncontrolled to disaster
• Thousands protest against army statement in central Khartoum, Sudan
• Vodacom Tanzania pleads guilty, settles charges against CEO, employees
• France seeks assurances on migrants, militants and political solution for Libya in EU position
• Sudan’s security service announces release of political prisoners
• South Africa’s manufacturing output up 0.6 pct y/y in February
• World Bank puts Mozambique’s economic losses from Cyclone Idai at up to $773 mln
• African, Syrian migrants in crosshairs of Libya war
• Zimbabwe reaches agreement with IMF on economic reform programme
• Libya fighting kills 56, European powers jostle over conflict
• Zimbabwe GDP growth below target at 4 pct in 2018 – Treasury
• Uganda shilling unchanged as corporate demand ebbs
• Kenya shilling weakens due to importer demand, excess liquidity
• Road traffic charity paves way to safer cities for African children

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