By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares buoyed by optimism on US-China trade talks
• MSCI ex-Japan gains, Nikkei at 4-1/2-month top
• Sentiment boosted by China data, JP Morgan results
• Positive news on Sino-US trade talks whet risk appetite

Oil Markets

• Oil pauses; focus on future supply direction
• Brent down 0.2 pct $71.44 per barrel (0629GMT)
• WTI down 0.4 pct at $63.63 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold slips to 1-wk low as global slowdown fears ease
• Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,288.85 per ounce (0109GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.2 pct at $1,292.20 an ounce

Grains

• Corn extends gains into second session on weather woes
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.5 pct at $4.62 per bushel (0112GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 0.2 pct at $3.61-3/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.1 pct at $8.96-1/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures up 0.2 pct at $10.49 per hundredweight

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

• Ivanka Trump in Ethiopia, would also visit Ivory Coast
• Botswana’s Masisi in Qatar; 14-16 Apr
• IMF 2019 sub-Saharan Africa regional economic outlook at spring IMF meetings
• Nigeria inflation data for Mar-19 expected [fcst. 11.1% yy, prev. 11.3%]
• South Africa state capture inquiry resumes
• South Africa PIC inquiry resumes
• Malema of South Africa’s EFF on campaign trail in KZN
• Maimane of South Africa’s DA on campaign trail in KZN

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

• Egypt parliament to vote Tuesday on constitutional changes – speaker
• Sudan protesters demand civilian rule, military council says ready to comply
• Sudan’s military council removes defence minister, names new intelligence head
• Air strike kills Islamic State deputy in Somali region
• Ivanka Trump lands in Africa to promote US jobs plan for women
• Egypt’s president meets Libyan commander Haftar in Cairo
• Squalid conditions fuel frustration in South Africa township ahead of election
• Eastern Libya warplane crashes in southern Tripoli – military sources
• Egypt expects its debt to become ‘euroclearable’ in October – minister
• Sudan protesters await military’s response on transition demands
• Egypt, Israel inch closer to resolving gas arbitration – minister
• Struggle over leadership deepens divisions in Tunisia president’s party
• UAE welcomes new head of Sudan’s transitional military council
• New military council leader promises civilian govt for Sudan
• Head of Sudan’s rapid support forces appointed deputy head of transitional military council
• Eastern Libya parliament head says forces will push Tripoli campaign
• Somali security forces kill at least 6 people in Mogadishu
• Civilian govt to be established in Sudan – new head of military council
• Sudan’s security and intelligence chief quits – Sudanese TV
• Italy says military intervention ‘cannot be a solution’ in Libya
• Protesters keep up pressure on Sudan’s military for civilian rule
• Head of Sudan’s military coucil steps down, a day after Bashir toppled
• Sudan police: 16 killed by stray bullets at protests and sit-ins
• With Bouteflika gone, protesters in Algeria demand more change
• East Libya warplanes hit Tripoli govt positions
• Ebola spread concentrated in Congo, not a wider emergency – WHO
• Ex South Sudan rebel leader says believes unity govt won’t be ready by May 12
• Algeria police arrest 108 in Friday’s protests – police statement
• WHO opts not to label Congo ebola outbreak an international emergency
• Sudan’s transitional military council delays meeting with political parties and forces
• Morocco court sentences Swiss national to 10 years on terrorism charges
• Bashir ouster rekindles interest in long-defaulted Sudan loans
• About 1,500 migrants trapped in Tripoli, Libya, lives at risk – UNHCR
• Africa Crude – Angola set to clear as June programme looms
• Sudan’s military not greedy for power – political committee head
• Mozambique’s IMF loan program to be decided as soon as next week – official
• DR Congo troops kill 36 Burundi rebels in east – army
• Rwanda’s genocide survivors find reconciliation, income in women’s cooperatives
• South Africa’s Group Five to shed assets under business review
• South Africa’s Oceana Group sees HY profit up 30 pct
• Health experts discuss rise in ebola, to decide if emergency – WHO
• Thousands protests again in Algeria to demand political change
• Sudan woman in iconic protest image reports getting death threats
• South Africa’s Brimstone quits Clover buyout after anti-Israel pressure
• Military council says will not extradite Bashir, may try him in Sudan
• Kenya shilling holds steady against the dollar
• South Sudan frets over whether Sudan coup will derail fragile peace
• Gunmen abduct two Cuban doctors in Kenya, police arrest their driver
• New Sudan govt will be civilian – political military council head
• UN rights office urges Sudan to cooperate with ICC on Bashir case
• Uganda shilling steady, to firm due to waning importer demand
• Auto giants battle used car dealers for Africa’s huge market
• Disease outbreaks feared in Libya, as supplies stretched – WHO
• Sudan should free protesters, investigate use of force – UN’s Bachelet
• Ethiopia farmers struggle to scratch a living in warming highlands

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