By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Dollar dips ahead of US GDP print, shares subdued
• Dollar slips from 23-mth highs
• US GDP data awaited
• Global stocks flat, European markets open mixed
• Gold firms 0.4 pct

Oil Markets

• Oil dips but set for longest run of weekly gains in years in tense market
• Prices up about 40 pct in 2019 on OPEC cuts, US sanctions
• Russian oil quality concerns add to tight market
• Saudi Arabia expected to raise output to fill supply gap
• Oil prices to rise amid tight market, political tension – FGE
• Brent down 0.3 pct at $74.16 per barrel (0647GMT)
• WTI down 0.5 pct at $64.91 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold eyes first weekly gain since March as growth concerns linger
• Spot gold up 0.1 pct at $1,278.62 per ounce (0105GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.1 pct at $1,280.60 an ounce

Grains

• Soybeans set for third straight weekly drop as bumper stocks weigh
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.3 pct at $4.42-3/4 per bushel (0051GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 0.3 pct at $3.58-1/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures largely unchanged at $8.59 per bushel
• Most active rice futures unchanged at $10.42 per hundredweight

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

• World Bank’s Malpass in Africa this weekend; Madagascar, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Egypt
• Nigeria manufacturing PMI for Apr-19 [prev. 57.4]
• China Belt & Road Initiative forum underway in Beijing; Kenya & Ethiopia leaders attending
• Guinea’s Conde in Ivory Coast
• Uganda’s Museveni on state visit to Zimbabwe
• Zimbabwe international trade fair in Bulawayo; Uganda’s Museveni attending
• South Africa national freedom day tomorrow (27 Apr); Ramaphosa already in Eastern Cape on campaign trail ahead of commemoration
• South Africa’s Malema of the EFF on campaign trail in Northwest
• Nigeria Q3 2018 labour statistics expected

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

• Thousands protest against Algeria’s ruling elite
• Emerging market stocks dip, debt markets stabilise
• Cyclone leaves trail of destruction across Mozambique
• Uganda shilling weakens on demand from banks, importers
• South Africa’s Pick n Pay posts 18 pct jump in full year earnings
• South Africa’s Implats says Q3 platinum output up
• South Africa’s rand strengthens slightly ahead of US growth data
• Sierra Leone’s fishing ban to replenish stocks yields little
• IMF’s Lagarde says China’s Belt and Road should only go where sustainable
• World Bank’s new president skips China’s Belt and Road for Africa trip
• ‘Better to kill us’: Ethiopian residents fear evictions from satellite towns
• Libya – Migrants evacuated as confident Tripoli fighters tell Haftar: ‘We are coming’
• Morocco police use water cannon to disperse teacher protest
• Lucara finds largest uncut diamond in recent history in Botswana mine
• Cyclone Kenneth hits Mozambique after lashing Comoros
• Death toll in South Africa floods and mudslides rise over 70
• Huge crowds join sit-in outside Sudan’s defence ministry
• Africa Oil – Sonangol sells out of spot cargoes but offers too high for some buyers
• Athletics – Semenya wins 5,000m gold at South African Championships
• Ivory Coast bank assets rise 15 pct in 2018
• Algeria’s Sonatrach, Eni sign MOU to renew gas supply contract to Italy
• South Africa’s Sibanye-Stillwater lowers valuation for miner Lonmin
• Sudan’s ruling military council will retain “sovereign authority” – spokesman
• Mixed end-month outlook for African currencies
• Violence flares in northern Kenya as pressure mounts on villagers
• Tunisia police switch off broadcasts of private TV station
• Picture-perfect Congo ranger’s gorilla selfie goes viral
• ExxonMobil increases its exploration acreage offshore Namibia
• Sudan judges to march in Khartoum – judge
• Uganda mum of multiple quadruplets struggles to provide for 38 kids
• Kenya ready to issue new eurobond to refinance maturing bond
• Kenya economy to grow at least 6 pct in 2019, finmin says
• Sudan may face counter coup if no accord on transition – opposition leader
• Malawi telecoms company TNM’s 2018 profit up 27 pct
• Cyclone Kenneth batters Comoros as heads to Mozambique, Tanzania
• Kenya shilling holds steady amid importer demand
• Kenya’s economic growth rebounds to 6.3 pct in 2018 – stats office
• Output at South Africa’s Amplats hit by Eskom power cuts

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