By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia shares falter, bonds rally on global risk aversion
• MSCI ex-Japan off 0.5%, Chinese blue-chip index down
• E-minis for S&P 500 fall 0.4%
• US treasury yields at the lowest since Sep 2017

Oil Markets

• Oil prices fall as economic concerns outweigh supply risks
• Brent down 0.4 pct at $69.85 per barrel (0101GMT)
• WTI down 0.7 pct at $58.70 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold steady as global economy fears buoy safe-haven assets
• Spot gold unchanged at $1,279.12 per ounce (0123GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.2 pct at $1,279.70 an ounce

Grains

• Corn futures jump to 3-yr high as US farmers struggle to plant
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 2.3 pct at $5.16-1/4 per bushel (0131GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 3.0 pct at $4.32-3/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 2.7 pct at $8.79 per bushel
• Most active rice futures unchanged at $11.65 per hundredweight

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

• Nigeria’s Buhari inauguration
• South Africa’s Ramamphosa cabinet awaited
• Tanzania’s Magufuli in Zimbabwe
• Odinga ally Wetangula to questioned by Kenya DCI over fake gold scam
• 2019 Euromoney East Africa Conference in Nairobi, Kenya; CBK governor Njoroge speaker
• South Africa PIC inquiry continues
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues

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 Naspers to list consumer internet business on Euronext in July
• Top militant suspect transferred to Egypt from eastern Libya – state TV
• Sudan’s opposition observes first day of strike, military says communication not suspended
• WHO counts down Africa polio clock despite fears of new outbreak
• Don’t take our troops for granted, France warns West African states
• Algeria’s gas exports fall to 51.5 bln cubic metres in 2018
• East Congo villagers kill ebola health worker, loot clinic
• Morocco miner Managem says it retrieved gold seized by Sudan authorities
• South Africa’s rand slumps to 2-mth low low as Mabuza sworn in to parliament
• Africa Oil – Nigerian crude offered at high differentials
• Tanzania says construction of LNG plant to start in 2022
• Mariners set to strike at South African ports from Thursday
• Algeria to seek “good compromise” over Total’s Anadarko deal – minister
• Rights group accuses Egypt forces of war crimes in Sinai
• Bombardier consortium named preferred bidder for $3.4 bln Egypt monorail
• South African deputy president surivives “disrepute” accusation
• Tanzania, Zambia plan $1.5 bln oil products pipeline – Tanzania minister
• Malawi’s Mutharika calls for unity after fractious presidential election
• Algeria’s annual inflation slightly down to 4 pct in April
• Egypt could cut taxes for stock exchange investors – bourse chairman
• Kenya need to begin reorganising debt, room for borrowing has shrunk – central bank chief
• Sudan’s opposition observes first day of strike
• Zambia to cancel, delay more project loans as debt soars – finmin
• Egypt considering selling power plants to private investors – minister
• Northwest Nigeria violence drives 20,000 into Niger – UNHCR
• South Africa – Lonmin shareholders approve takeover by Sibanye-Stillwater
• Nigeria to reduce JV oil assets to 40 pct in 2019 – budget document
• MTN to open ‘market place’ in step towards Africa’s biggest bank goal
• WHO sees high risk as polio breaks out in CAR
• Uganda’s tungsten mine sues International Tin Association for defamation
• Airtel Africa looks at $1 bln London listing
• Kenya shilling forecast to weaken due to oil importer dollar demand
• Delayed rains to lower Kenya’s expected growth in 2019 – cenbank chief
• South Africa’s rand falls as trade war concerns hurt sentiment
• South Africa’s MTN to sell interest in Amadeus to HarbourVest for $83 mln
• Kenya engages World Bank for $750 mln loan for budget support

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