By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares wobble amid trade, geopolitical tensions; focus on Fed meeting
• European shares seen opening higher
• Dollar index holds near 2-wk high after solid US retail data
• Investors await upcoming FOMC: BoJ, BoE also meet this week
• Bitcoin jumps to 13-mth high

Oil Markets

• Oil prices climb after tanker attacks stoke Middle East tensions
• Brent up by 0.2%, WTI gains 3 cents
• Pompeo says all options available on tanker issue
• Brent up 14 cents at $62.15 a barrel (0645GMT)
• WTI up 3 cents at $52.54 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold prices subdued on firmer dollar; Fed meeting in focus
• SPDR Gold holdings rise 0.6% on Friday
• Spot gold down 0.2% at $1,338.86 per ounce (0549GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.2% at $1,343.90 an ounce

Grains

• Corn jumps 2% to hit 5-yr high on crop uncertainty
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.5% at $5.41-1/4 per bushel (0029GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 2.2% at $4.62-3/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 1.2% at $9.07-1/2 per bushel
• Most active rice futures down 0.3% at $11.61 per hundredweight

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

• South Africa youth day; public holiday
• US-Africa Business Summit in Maputo, Mozambique; 18-21 Jun [Trump’s “Prosper Africa” initiative to be launched]
• South Africa state capture inquiry & PIC inquiry resume tomorrow; 18 Jun

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

• Airtel Africa expects London IPO to be priced between 80-100 pence share
• In Algeria, conservatives weigh in against pressure for Western-style democracy
• Cairo’s “mother of Egyptian musuems” set for revamp
• Egypt in $500 mln settlement with Israel Electric Corp – statement
• Sudan’s Bashir charged with corruption, in 1^st appearance since April
• Egypt’s state-owned Banque du Caire net profit surges
• Former Algerian officials questioned over corruption – TV
• Four Cameroon police killed by suspected seperatist bomb – govt
• Armed gang kills at least 34 in northwest Nigeria, police say
• South Africa youth unemployment a “national crisis” – president
• French, Malian forces kill 20 militants in operation – Mali army
• Algeria partner of Germany’s VW questioned in corruption case – state TV
• Saudi energy minister hopes OPEC agrees to extend production cut “early July”
• Ousted Sudan president to be sent for trial soon, prosecutor says
• Morocco’s sale of 8% stake in Maroc Telecom to pump $920 mln into state budget
• WHO panel decides not to declare international ebola emergency
• Libya-Norway fertilizer venture to restart operations shortly – NOC
• Senegal police detain protesters amid outcry over gas deal
• Distrust between Sudan parties makes direct talks impossible – US official
• Nigeria to shut bank accounts of firms which import FX restricted goods
• Investors that don’t pay taxes should be kicked out of Zambia – Lungu
• Africa Crude – Some July Angolan clears in spot activity
• Celebrating arrests, but still pushing for change, protesters rally in Algeria
• Ghana, Ivory Coast cocoa floor price seen as small step toward ending child labour
• Uganda shilling unchanged as appetite slows
• South Africa AMCU union seeks $1,145 monthly basic wage in pay talks
• Kenya shilling weakens against the dollar
• Spotlight gives hope to Africa’s hunted albinos
• South Africa’s Omnia flags full-year loss

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