By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares slip; German, Korean data hurt risk appetite
• Dollar index near 2-yr peak, pound at 2-mth lows
• European shares seen slightly higher
• BoJ says rates will stay at extreme lows until early 2020
• Markets eye earnings, US Q1 GDP on Friday

Oil Markets

• Brent oil hits $75 for first time in 2019 amid tighter Iran sanctions
• Saudi Arabia, allies can compensate for Iran supply loss – Rysted
• US crude stocks at Oct 2017 high of 460.63 mln barrels – EIA
• US crude oil production at record 12.2 mln bpd – EIA
• Brent up 0.4 pct at $74.90 per barrel (0705GMT)
• WTI up 5 cents at $65.94 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold steadies as strong dollar negates support from weak data
• SPDR gold holdings fall to over 6-mth low
• Spot gold steady at $1,275.51 per ounce (0548GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,277.60 an ounce

Grains

• Soybeans tick up after 3 days of losses; wheat unmoved
• Most active CBOT wheat futures unchanged at $4.38-1/2 per bushel (0114GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.2 pct at $3.55-1/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.1 pct at $8.56-1/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures up 0.2 pct at $10.18 per hundredweight

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

• World Malaria Day
• Kenya’s Wajir West by-election
• South Africa’s 2019 national orders award ceremony
• South Africa’s Malema of the EFF on the campaign trail in Northwest province
• China Belt and Road Initiative forum starts in Beijing; leaders of Ethiopia, Kenya, etc attending
• Guinea’s Conde to visit Ivory Coast
• 2^nd UN online digitial cooperation in Africa dialogue
• EABC-UNECA workshop on AfCFTA in Arusha, Tanzania
• Nigeria’s Buhari to visit northeast Borno state; heads to the UK afterwards
• South Africa’s Maimane of the DA on the campaign trail in Eastern Cape
• 3^rd annual West Africa fertilizer forum in Lome, Togo; 24-26 Apr
• Zimbabwe international trade fair in Harare
• Tanzania’s Maguful in Malawi for 2-day state visit; arrived 24 Apr
• South Africa PIC inquiry continues

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

• Output at South Africa’s Amplats hit by Eskom power cuts
• South Africa’s rand dips as global growth fears, oil spike stokes risk-off
• South Africa’s Gold Fields Q1 production up 10 pct
• Tullow Oil cuts output guidance, Kenya timeline ‘ambitious’
• Tullow Oil downgrades output guidance, delays Uganda project
• Millions of children miss measles shots, creating outbreaks – UNICEF
• 3 members of Sudan military council resign after demand by opposition
• More food aid could boost fight against ebola in Congo, agencies say
• 325 detained migrants evacuated by UN as war reaches Tripoli, Libya
• Anti-abortion billboards fuel stigma in Kenya, say women’s rights groups
• More than 60 dead in South Africa after heavy rains
• Another cyclone expected to hit Mozambique on Thursday
• Ebola first responders threaten strike if security not improved
• South Africa intends to de-register militant mining union AMCU
• Sudan’s military council invites opposition for talks
• Tanzania makes $310 mln advance payment for dam on heritage site
• New CEO of Algeria’s Sonatrach pledges to boost output, exports
• Rwanda court repeals law banning satirical cartoons
• Libya – Detention centre opened but migrants too frightened to leave as war reaches Tripoli
• UN envoy hopes Libya peace efforts can bear fruit soon
• Algeria won’t extend crude-for-products deal with Vitol beyond April – sources
• Africa Oil – Angolan marked up amid tight supply, Nigerian diffs sluggish
• Italy urges Europe to ready plan for Libya refugee flight
• Oil firm Seplat eyes $700 mln for Nigerian gas development
• Aide to Libyan commander Haftar visits Moscow
• Another cyclone expected to hit Mozambique on Thursday
• South Africa’s Tongaat to restate prior results after accounting review
• Algeria’s tycoon Kouninef brothers placed in temporary custody – Ennahar TV
• Nigeria’s oil minister, Saudi Aramco discuss investment options
• Sudan’s protesters hope cheerful staying-power will oust army
• UK man guilty of possessing bomb-making materials in Kenya
• WHO recommends 1-hr maximum screen time per day for under-5s
• South Africa govt says it intends to de-register AMCU union
• Algeria investigating corruption allegations relating to ex-energy minister – Ennahar TV
• South Africa’s Life Healthcare warns on earnings after disposal
• Drones to deliver vaccines, blood and drugs across Ghana
• Kenya shilling weakens on energy sector demand
• South Africa consumer confidence dips further in Q1 – survey

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