By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia stocks sag ahead of China data, Gulf attacks support oil
• European stocks expected to open slightly higher
• MSCI Asia-Pacific index dips 0.3%, Nikkei adds 0.3%
• Market focus on China industrial production, retail sales
• Caution seen prevailing ahead of Fed’s meeting next week
• Spot gold near 14-mth highs

Oil Markets

• Brent oil rises for 2^nd day after Middle East tanker attacks
• Tanker attacks raise threat to supplies from Middle East
• Brent, WTI still heading for weekly declines
• OPEC cuts forecast for growth in global oil demand
• Brent up 0.4% at $61.54 a barrel (0638GMT)
• WTI down 1 cent at $52.27 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold breaks above $1,350 level as growth woes lift safe-haven demand
• Gold up 1.1% so far this week, set for 4^th weekly gain
• Palladium on track for best week in nearly 9 months
• Silver hits 1-wk high
• Spot gold up 1.0% at $1,355.49 per ounce (0749GMT)
• US gold futures up 1.2% at $1,359.50 an ounce

Grains

• Corn hits near 4-yr high, set to finish week up 7%
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.2 pct at $5.36-1/2 per bushel (0103GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 0.5% at $4.44-1/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.1% at $8.89 per bushel
• Most active rice futures up 0.2% at $11.67 per hundredweight

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

• SDGs Implementation in Africa conference in Kigali, Rwanda; Zambia’s Lungu attending (12-14 Jun) #SDGs3YearJourney @SDGCAfrica
• WHO emergency committee to meet on ebola
• South Africa’s EFF June 16 lecture on Sunday; Malema keynote speaker
• AfDB 2019 annual meetings in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; 11-14 Jun
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa 3-day cabinet lekgotla; day 3
• Togo-EU economic forum in Lome; 13-14 Jun
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• Eisenhower Fellowships Africa regional conference in Kigali, Rwanda; 14-16 Jun. Kagame opening speech
• 9^th AIDS conference in Durban, South Africa; Deputy President Mabuza closing speaker

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

• Spotlight gives hope to Africa’s hunted albinos
• South Africa’s rand steady as investors mull developments ahead of long weekend
• South Africa’s Omnia flags full-year loss
• Sudan’s military rulers say several coup attempts thwarted
• Egypt hikes fare on third Cairo metro line
• Soccer – China beat South Africa to send Germany and France though
• Egypt condemns attack on oil tankers in Gulf of Oman – foreign ministry
• Athletics – South Africa’s Semenya denied entry into Rabat 800 metres race
• Mali president visits Dogon village where dozens killed
• Sudan military rulers say they rejected proposal from Ethiopia PM to hold negotiations in Addis Ababa
• Kenya to raise capital gains tax to shore up revenues
• Sudan officers detained in connection with dispersal of sit-in – military council
• Family sent back to DR Congo after two die of ebola in Uganda
• Libya parliament chief allied to Haftar rules out talks before Tripoli captured
• Algeria ex-PM Sellal arrested over graft allegation – state TV
• Sudan military council head meets senior US diplomat in Khartoum – statement
• UN says it confirms 17 deaths in Sudan’s Darfur
• Ethiopia pursues liberalised telecoms by approving scope of regulator
• Sudan’s state prosecutors charge Bashir with corruption
• South Africa – Rand edges down as Ramaphosa, inflation data in focus
• Libya – Tripoli children struggle to study as war reaches the capital
• Firm seeks $9 bln Nigeria asset seizure over unpaid gas project arbitration
• Africa Oil – Angola cargoes clearing on discounts but overhang looms
• Libya’s NOC says 80 soldiers entered Ras Lanuf terminal, taken over building
• Tanzania spending to rise 2% to 33.11 tln shillings – finmin
• Uganda govt spending to rise 23% in 2019/20 – finmin
• Head of east Libya parliament rules out talks before Tripoli captured
• South Africa central bank committed to price stability mandate
• Kenya, Zambia currencies seen easing; Ugandan, Tanzanian firm; in week ahead
• Rwanda spending to rise 11% in 2019/20 – finmin
• Blackwater founder expands operations in Congo
• Algeria police arrest partner of Germany’s VW over corruption allegations – state TV
• Africa sees increase in foreign investment, buckling global trend
• Kenya reduces budget deficit for 2019/20 fiscal year – budget
• Zimbabwe pensioners face delay in payments amid currency row
• Zambia president threatens to fine miners who break law
• Mali fires regional governor after attack that killed dozens
• Uganda shilling firm helped by investor flows
• South Africa’s Q2 business confidence is unchanged from Q1
• Tanzania forecasts economic growth of 7.1% in 2019
• Kenya shilling weakens against the dollar
• Public gatherings banned in Kasese District in Uganda after ebola outbreak
• South Africa – Rand slips on investigation into Ramaphosa campaign donation
• Second ebola patient dies in Uganda – health ministry official
• Algeria floats idea of larger OPEC+ oil cut, rollover still likely – sources
• IMF approves disbursement of $248.15 mln under Angola’s credit facility

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