By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia shares pin all on dovish Fed, risk disappointment
• Asia shares ex-Japan enjoy best day since Jan
• Much riding on Fed being open to easing, and soon
• Global bonds rally after Draghi flags stimulus
• Trump says to meet Xi at G20, trade talks to resume

Oil Markets

• Oil gains amid US-China trade deal hopes, ECB talk of easing policy
• Brent up 0.3% at $62.34 a barrel (0644GMT)
• WTI up 0.4% at $54.10 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold inches lower as trade optimism, dovish ECB lift equities
• Spot gold down 0.1% at $1,344.92 per ounce (0424GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.2% at $1,348.40 an ounce

Grains

• Soybeans fall, retreat from more than 3-mth high
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.8% at $5.27-1/2 per bushel (0124GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.3% at $4.48-1/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures down 0.6% at $9.08-1/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures down 0.4% at $11.52 per hundredweight

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

• Zimbabwe AfCFTA consultative forum; 19-20 Jun
• SWIFT African regional conference in Accra, Ghana; 18-20 Jun
• US-Africa Business Summit in Maputo, Mozambique; Trump’s ‘Prosper Africa’ to be launched
• South Africa inflation May-19 [fcst. 4.8% yy, prev. 4.4%]
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• South Africa PIC 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 African rand retreats from 2-wk high, eyes on CPI and Fed
• ‘Everything is stolen from us’: Tunisians fight to preserve cultural heritage
• Scandal-hit Steinhoff posts narrow $1.3 bln loss in delayed 2018 results
• Air strike hits warehouse co-owned by Italy’s ENI in Libya
• Anadarko approves $20 bln LNG export project in Mozambique
• Morocco’s Managem increases stake in Guinea’s Tri-K gold project to 85%
• Survivors recall horror of Congo ethnic attacks
• Gunmen kill 41 people in central Mali – mayor
• Athletics – South Africa’s Semenya to chase fast 800m at Prefontaine Classic
• Nigeria governor says armed robbers, not cash-eating gorilla, stole $22,000
• Tunisia approves law excluding presidential candidate leading in polls
• Wood Mackenzie says Anadarko to develop $20 bln Mozambique LNG project
• New dresses, youth action: ending FGM in Africa
• Internet blackout hits Ethiopia’s pocket, but not seen deterring telecoms investors
• Lawmakers propose nationalising loss-making Kenya Airways
• Uganda clears 3 experimental ebola treatments, watches for spread
• Algeria army chief says “certain parties” seeking constitutional vaccum
• Africa Oil – Angola buyers expect August discounts, Nigerian programmes awaited
• Kenya parliament committee proposes nationalisation of Kenya Airways
• South Africa rand rallies as Ramaphosa set to give more support for Eskom
• Morocco central bank leaves benchmark rate at 2.25%
• Uganda shilling firms as players trim positions
• Nigeria has no plans to go to eurobond market this year
• Uganda central bank holds key lending rate at 10%, sees faster GDP growth
• Egypt plans bond denominated either in yuan or yen or South Korean won – official
• More than 300k flee Congo violence, complicating ebola fight – UN
• African survivors of FGM call for help with mental trauma
• Kenya shilling seen under pressure from excess liquidity

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