By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Australian, Indian elections boost Asian shares, trade fears ease
• MSCI Asia ex-Japan +0.5%; China blue-chips drag
• Elections lift shares in Australia, India
• Oil up more than 1.3 pct after Saudi minister comments

Oil Markets

• Oil rises after OPEC+ says to keep output cuts, Iran tension rises
• Brent hits highest since late April
• US oil touches nearly 3-wk high
• Brent up 1.3 pct at $73.11 a barrel (0604GMT)
• WTI up 1.1 pct at $63.47 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold steadies as trade tensions, Iran worries in focus
• Spot gold up 0.1 pct at $1,278.06 per ounce (0137GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.2 pct at $1,278 an ounce

Grains

• Corn jumps more than 1 pct as rains threatens more delays
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 1.4 pct at $4.71-1/2 per bushel (0119GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 1.3 pct at $3.88-1/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.9 pct at $8.29-1/2 per bushel
• Most active rice futures down about 0.1 pct at $11.07 per hundredweight

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

• Nigeria central bank MPC meeting starts; decision tomorrow [fcst. 13.5%, prev. 13.5%]
• 4^th Ghana CEO summit in Accra; 20-21 May
• Nigeria GDP Q1-2019 [act. 2.0% yy, fcst. 2.3%, prev. 2.4%]
• South Africa state capture inquiry resumes
• South Africa PIC inquiry resumes

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

• Kenya shilling holds firm against the greenback
• Nigeria’s economy grew 2.01% in Q1 2019 – stats office
• South Africa’s Barloworld H1 earnings jump 14%
• South Africa’s rand firmer as risk selloff pauses
• Sudan military and opposition resume talks after street violence
• Explosion targets tourist bus near near Egypt musuem
• Saudi Arabia deposits $250 mln into Sudan’s central bank
• Zimbabwe central bank says it secures $500 mln to ease dollar shortages
• Sudan commander says democratic elections are his goal
• Schwarzenegger struck by flying kick at South Africa sports event
• Malawi’s president makes final plea for re-election in tight race
• Forces loyal to Libya’s UN-backed govt receive military hardware
• Libya’s NOC chief says instability could lead to 95% oil production loss
• Ethiopia starts rationing electricity for homes and industries
• At disaster forum, storm-hit Mozambique says will seek help to build back better
• South Africa’s Sibanye wins final regulatory go-ahead for Lonmin deal
• Zambia’s president insists on tax changes opposed by mining firms
• South Africa power utility Eskom raises $361 mln through loan drawdowns
• Africa Oil – European demand seen higher on crude shortages, high gasoline cracks
• Egypt’s Sisi pardons 560 prisoners
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa appoints head of anti-corruption unit
• IMF: Mozambique debt talks with VTB almost finalised, cyclone hits growth
• Algeria election may be postponed, protests continue
• IMF staff agrees to disburse final $2 bln tranche of Egypt loan
• Acacia Mining says Tanzania mine to be issued environmental protection order
• Uganda shilling inches up as tax payments help
• South Africa’s Sibanye wins final go-ahead for Lonmin deal
• Total CEO says planned buy of Anadarko’s Africa assets ‘perfectly fitting’

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