By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia shares up on policy easing hopes, yuan slips on PBOC signals
• PBoC chief says ample room to ease policy if needed, dollar rises
• China, Hong Kong markets closed for public holiday
• White House denies delay in Mexico tariffs
• US payrolls seen +185k but risks on downside

Oil Markets

• Oil prices extends gains, move further away from 5-mth lows
• Brent up 0.8 pct at $62.17 per barrel (0041GMT)
• WTI up 1 pct at $53.09 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold set for best week in 2019 on rate cut views; eyes on US jobs data
• Gold up 2.1% so far this week
• Platinum on track for its first weekly gain in 7
• Silver set to post best week in over 4 months
• Spot gold down 0.2 pct at $1,332.31 per ounce (0122GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.4 pct at $1,337 an ounce

Grains

• Wheat dips, but set to finish week up 1 pct
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up about 1 pct for the week
• Most active soybean futures down about 1 pct so far this week
• Most active corn futures down 1.5 pct for the week

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

• Liberia June 7 protest
• Ethiopia’s Ahmed in Sudan to mediate political crisis
• Botswana’s Masisi media briefing on return from US trip
• South Africa FX reserves May-19 [act.$48.3B, prev. $49.5B]
• Nigeria Stanbic IBTC PMI May-19 [act. 52.9, prev. 55.5]
• Nigeria releases Q1-2019 trade data
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• Zimbabwe national cleanup day

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

• Ethiopia PM Abiy in Sudan to meet with chief of military council
• Kenya shilling firm on diaspora remittances inflows
• South Africa rand continues to tumble on central bank worries
• South Africa net foreign reserves slip to $43.18 bln in May
• UN finds 115 mln ‘child grooms’ with CAR topping list
• Eastern Libya forces attack Tripoli airport for second night
• 3 protesters killed in Nigeria’s Adamawa state – sources
• Algeria’s interim president calls for dialogue to prepare new elections
• African bloc suspends Sudan, demanding end to military rule
• 1 in 4 ebola cases undetected in Congo – WHO
• Sierra Leone’s first lady confronted over FGM controversy
• 2 Canadian aid workers kidnapped in central Ghana – police
• UK summons Sudan envoy to raise concerns about Khartoum violence
• Africa Oil – Trading muted on IOC tender, Angolan cargoes dwindle
• South Africa’s ANC insists policy on central bank role has not changed
• Malawi police use tear gas as opposition protests grow
• Soccer – CAF president Ahmad questioned by French authorities
• South African current account deficit widens to 2.9% of GDP in Q1 2019
• AU suspends Sudan from its activities till civilian govt formed
• Mali plans 9.4% budget increase for 2020 to deal with security issues
• Sudan crackdown highlights role of feared paramilitary unit – Amnesty
• Nigeria petroleum regulator revokes six oil block licenses
• Egypt forces kill 14 suspected militants after checkpoint attack
• Kenya’s ‘stabilising hand’ c.bank chief gets second term
• Uganda shilling trades weaker on importer demand
• South Africa’s rand falls as ANC squabbles over central bank
• Kenya president renews central bank governor’s term – govt gazette

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