By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian stocks off 4-mth lows, but Huawei row weighs
• Asian shares hobbled by US-China tech battle
• Spreadbetters expect firmer open for European stocks
• Fed’s Powell dismisses concerns about rising debt levels
• Chip-related shares under pressure

Oil Markets

• Oil rises on US-Iran tensions, but trade war concerns weigh
• Trump threatens Iran with “great force”
• OPEC expected to continue supply cuts into H2 2019
• Brent up 0.4 pct at $72.24 per barrel (0534GMT)
• WTI up 0.4 pct at $63.36 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold eases as dollar steals safe-haven thunder
• Spot gold down 0.1 pct at $1,276.02 per ounce (0106GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.1 pct at $1,276.10 per ounce

Grains

• Corn hits near 1-yr high on slow US planting pace
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 1.2 pct at $4.83-3/4 per bushel (0057GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 1.2 pct at $3.93-3/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.8 pct at $8.38 per bushel
• Most active rice futures unchanged at $11.23 per hundredweight

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

• Malawi elections; #MalawiDecides2019
• Ghana CEO summit in Accra; day 2
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• South Africa PIC inquiry continues
• UK-West Africa Agritech summit in Nigeria
• Nigeria’s Buhari expected back to Abuja from Saudi Arabia

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

• Malawians vote in tough election for President Mutharika
• Talks on Sudan’s political transition fail to produce deal for second day
• Ex-Credit Suisse banker pleads guilty to US charge over Mozambique loan
• Athletics – South Africa’s Semenya to contest 3,000-metres at Prefontaine Classic
• Libyan gunmen halt water pipeline to besieged Tripoli
• Soccer-Ghana striker Gyan calls time on international career
• Egypt’s prosecutor orders release of seven opposition figures – source
• Zimbabwe scraps official parity for fuel imports
• Congo Republic senate approves restructuring of China debt
• Kenya suspends gambling ad ban after musician complains
• Egypt women use ancient Indonesian martial arts to fight abuse
• Lawyers for South Africa’s Zuma tell court he is being treated unfairly
• Zambia seeks ‘divorce’ from Vedanta over alleged mining breaches
• Africa Oil – Flurry of tenders as Nigerian programmes emerge
• Schoolgirls used as human shields in Congo due to ‘magical powers’ – charities
• Kenya banks to test mobile lending app to ease SME squeeze
• Somalia passes petroleum law, paving way for exploration
• Algeria’s army chief says elections are best way out of crisis
• Coca-Cola ends plan to refranchise Africa bottling unit, keeps majority stake
• South Africa’s Amplats fires over 600 underground workers at its Mototolo mine
• Zambia’s Lungu seeks new investor in Vedanta-controlled copper mine
• Ethiopia starts rationing electricity for homes and industries
• Uganda shilling unchanged on lacklustre importer appetite
• South Africa’s Aspen sells Australian prescription portfolio to Mylan
• Tanzania’s fines Acacia Mining $2.4 mln over alleged pollution
• Nigeria’s economic growth slows in Q1 as oil sector shrinks
• 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%
• Sudan military and opposition resume talks after street violence

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