By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia shares slip as US sanctions on Huawei threaten fresh tensions with China
• Asia stocks slip after US unveils sanctions on Huawei
• Australian jobs data spurs rate cut expectations
• Soft US, China economic data underscore slowdown
• US bond yields dip, 2-yr yields hits 15-mth low

Oil Markets

• Oil edges up for 3^rd session on Mideast tensions
• Market shrugs off gain in US crude oil inventory
• Uncertainty over OPEC supply helping to cap price gains
• Brent up 0.6 pct at $72.18 a barrel (0612GMT)
• WTI up 0.6 pct at $62.40 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold holds steady as rising equities counter safe-haven demand
• Spot gold steady at $1,295.84 per ounce (0103GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,296.90 an ounce

Grains

• Corn jumps 1.5 pct as rains threaten to further slow planting
• Most active CBOT corn futures up 1.6 pct at $3.75-1/2 a bushel (0044GMT)
• Most active wheat futures up 0 .7 pct at $4.52-1/2 a bushel
• Most active soybean futures up 1.6 pct at $8.15 a bushel

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

• Ethiopia’s ruling EPRDF executive committee meets
• 2019 Transform Africa summit in Kigali rounds up; day 3
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• MTN to list on Nigerian Stock Exchange
• South Africa’s EFF post-election press conference

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

• South Africa’s rand slips as trade tensions weigh on risk demand
• South Africa’s Investec reports 3.6 pct rise in annual earnings
• Low prices, promotions lift South Africa’s Dis-Chem annual profit
• Sudan opposition regrets military council’s suspension of talks
• Kenya raises $2.1 bln with dual-tranche eurobond
• Sudan forces clear protesters with gunfire; talks suspended for 72 hours
• From camel to cup: Camel milk froths hopes in drought-hit Kenya
• Libya general Haftar did not consult with UAE before his move on Tripoli – minister
• Zimbabwe to rebase economy after adopting new currency – finmin
• Mozambique needs $3.2 bln for post-cyclone reconstruction – local media
• UN calls on Tunisia to immediately release detained official
• Clashing tribes and shrinking grassland as Kenya airport sparks
• At least 17 Niger soldiers killed in ambush – govt spokesman
• Sudan forces fire into air, seeking to clear protesters from central Khartoum – Reuters
• Egypt’s Sisi opens huge suspension bridge over the Nile
• Africa Oil – Bonny Light force majeure lifted, Angolan programme awaited
• South Africa’s Long4Life beats sales estimates, shares jump
• Uganda agrees to pay oil firms more to use planned pipeline
• Zimbabwe platinum mines to ride out power cuts, gold output less secure
• Tunisia’s economic growth slows to 1.1 pct in first quarter
• South Africa retail sales up 0.2 pct y/y in March
• Uganda shilling holds steady against the dollar
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa says to speed up economic reforms, fix Eskom
• Tharisa seeks to tap Zimbabwe’s battery minerals potential
• Egypt unemployment rate drops to 8.1 pct in Q1 2019 – statistics agency
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa says committed to speedy economic reforms
• Nigeria consumer inflation edges up to 11.37 pct in April – stats office
• MTN Nigeria eyes debt and equity sale after stock market listing
• South Africa’s Spar in final stages of talks to buy controlling stake in Polish retail chain
• Fights to end polio, contain ebola made tougher by rising violence, research finds
• Egypt’s EGAS offers 13 LNG cargoes for June-July – sources

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