By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Global shares, oil drop after Trump tariff threat
• MSCI Asia ex-Japan sinks 1.9 pct
• European shares seen following suit; London closed
• Trump tweets tariff hike on Chinese goods due Friday
• China blue-chips drop more than 6 pct despite targeted RRR cut
• Safe-haven yen jumps, China’s yuan plummets

Oil Markets

• Oil prices slump after Trump’s tariff threats against China
• Brent down 2.1 pct at $69.34 per barrel (0646GMT)
• WTI down 2.2 pct at $60.57 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold gains as Trump threatens to increase tariffs on Chinese goods
• Spot gold up 0.3 pct at $1,282.96 per ounce (0121GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.2 pct at $1,283.70 an ounce

Grains

• Soybean prices sink to lowest in over 7 months
• Most active CBOT soybean futures down 2.2 pct at $8.24-1/4 per bushel
• Most active corn futures down 3.2 pct at $3.59-1/4 per bushel
• Most active wheat futures down 2.2 pct at $4.28-1/2 per bushel

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

• Nigeria’s Buhari to meet visiting UN general assembly president Maria Garces in Abuja
• Ethiopia national day of mourning for former president Gidada
• Ghana’s central bank to introduce upgraded bank notes
• South Africa Standard Bank PMI Apr-19 [act. 50.3, prev. 48.8]
• Nigeria Stanbic IBTC Bank PMI Apr-19 [prev. 53.6]
• South Africa state capture inquiry resumes
• South Africa high court to hear case between journalist Karima Brown & EFF’s Malema
• Rwanda central bank MPC meeting & decision
• Special voting for 2019 South Africa elections commence (6-7 May); main vote on 8 May

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

• South Africa’s Massmart CEO Hayward to step down
• Kenya shilling firms, helped by remittances
• South Sudan says agrees oil exploration deal with South Africa
• Kosmos Energy looks to sell down interest in Mauritania-Senegal basin
• Libya’s Haftar orders troops to fight harder during Ramadan
• Benin guide for missing French tourists found dead
• Morocco’s Q1 unemployment rate edges down to 10 pct
• Total enters $8.8 bln deal with Occidental for Anadarko’s Africa assets
• Sudan’s military council says it will present vision for country’s transition on Monday
• Sudan’s ousted president Bashir questioned in corruption investigation – prosecutor
• UN calls for a week-long humanitarian truce in Libya capital
• Egypt’s net foreign reserves at $44.218 bln at end-April – c.bank
• Brother of Algeria’s ex-President Bouteflika placed in custody by military judge – state tv
• South Africa’s ruling ANC vows to act on corruption; EFF promises radical reforms
• Egypt expects giant solar park to be fully operational in 2019
• South Africa’s ruling ANC vows to punish corrupt officials as national vote nears
• Egypt’s Qalaa Holdings’ revenues to exceed 90 bln EGP next year – chairman
• Egypt non-oil private sector activity expands for first time in 8 months – PMI
• Tunisia police kills 3 militants in Sidi Bouzid
• Morocco considers measures to increase tax revenue
• Libya’s NOC calls for safe return of head of oil union taken in east
• Algeria police arrest brother of former president, 2 former intelligence chiefs – sources
• Protest in southwest Sudan ends in violence
• Hardline Egyptian Islamist receives 5-yr sentence for court siege case
• 710 fighters of Libya’s official govt killed since beginning of battle for Tripoli
• Sudan faces fuel crisis and worsening cash crunch
• Ethnic attacks in Mali killed 18 civilians this week – peacekeeping mission
• South Africa’s largest opposition party promises to lead coalitions, tackle racism
• Tunisia’s annual inflation falls to 6.9 pct in April
• Islamic State and Chadian fighters behind attack in southern Libya – source
• Athletics – Olympic chief sympathises with South Africa’s Semenya, respects CAS decision
• Athletics – UK runner Sharp received death threats for South Africa’s Semenya comments
• Athletics – South Africa’s Semenya’s future in doubt after she says no to medication to lower testosterone
• Congo ebola deaths surpass 1,000 as attacks on treatment centres go on
• South Sudan parties agree on six more months to form unity govt – IGAD
• Zimbabwe extends central bank governor’s term by another five years
• Malawi sentences man to death for murder of albino teenager
• Congo records 1,000^th ebola death in current outbreak
• South Sudan lifts state of emergency in north – state radio
• Hundreds of thousands protest against ruling elite in Algeria
• Africa Crude – Total sells IOC a VLCC, Nigerian outlook brightens
• World Bank to boost lending to Africa to help fight poverty – Malpass
• Cameroon’s GDP growth to rise to 4.2 pct in 2019 – IMF
• Zambia’s finance minister says tax reforms needed to cut debt
• Tunisia orders army to transport fuel during walkout
• South African logistics firm recommends review of bulk liquid terminal tender
• World Bank scales up support for Cyclone Idai hit nations to $700 mln
• Diplomats condemn order suspending Uganda journalists
• Uganda shilling weakens on demand from importers and banks
• Will young voters have their say in South Africa’s election?
• Kenya shilling strengthens against the dollar
• Kenya’s Safaricom FY earnings jump on m-pesa growth
• AfDB to lend Tunisia $500 mln in 2019
• MTN appoints South Africa’s former deputy finmin as chairman-designate
• Frustration over South African racial disparities builds as poll nears
• Congolese refugees cross illegally into Uganda, raising risk of ebola – aid groups

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