By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares slip, gold gains as Trump-Xi trade jitters build
• MSCI Asia ex-Japan drops 0.25%; Nikkei off 0.29%
• European shares seen flat at the open
• Gold firms on trade uncertainty, weak dollar
• US treasury yields remain near recent lows

Oil Markets

• Oil prices slip ahead of G20 talks, OPEC meet
• Russian president says OPEC deal to be on G20 agenda
• OPEC members plus Russia, others to meet in Vienna
• Brent down 0.5% at $66.20 per barrel (0644GMT)
• WTI down 0.5% at $59.13 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold rises on trade uncertainty; on course for best month in 3 years
• Bullion up nearly 8.4% this month
• Silver to post biggest monthly gain in 6 mths
• Palladium head for best month 2-1/2 years
• Spot gold may test resistance at $1,439/oz – technicals
• Spot gold up 0.4% at $1,414.61 per ounce (0540GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.8% at $1,423.40 an ounce

Grains

• Corn holds steady ahead of USDA report, but set to close June with 3% gain
• Corn rallies in recent weeks as rains slow planting
• Wheat up for 2^nd month as European temperatures soar
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.1% at $5.46-1/2 per bushel (0234GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.1% at $4.39-1/2 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.1% at $8.89 per bushel
• Most active rice futures down 0.2% at $11.48 per hundredweight

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

• G20 summit in Osaka; South Africa’s Ramaphosa, Egypt’s Sisi, & Senegal’s Sall attending
• ECOWAS summit in Abuja, Nigeria; 28-29 Jun
• Africa regional trade forum in Addis, Ethiopia; 27-28 Jun
• Rwanda’s Kagame state visit to Botswana; 27-28 Jun
• 1^st China-Africa economic and trade expo in Changsha
• South Africa PSCE May-19 [act.7.7% yy, fcst. 8.2%, prev. 8.0%]
• South Africa M3 May-19 [act. 9.1% yy, fcst. 8.6%, prev. 8.8%]
• Kenya inflation Jun-19 [fcst. 6.6% yy, prev. 5.5%]
• Zambia inflation Jun-19 [fcst. 8.6% yy, prev. 8.1%]
• Uganda inflation Jun-19 [fcst. 3.8% yy, prev. 3.3%]
• Nigeria FX reserves Jun-19 [prev. $45.1B]
• South Africa trade balance May-19 [prev. ZAR-3.4B]

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 firmer as bulls wrestle bears ahead of G20
• Airtel Africa drops 12.5% in early trade after London debut
• Ivory Coast and Ghana team up for greater share of chocolate wealth
• Airtel Africa prices London listing at bottom of range – bookrunner
• South Africa credit demand growth slows to 7.66% in May
• US “gag rule” linked to 40% jump in abortions in parts of Africa
• Nearly 250 arrested in Ethiopia after foiled coup – state TV
• 1 dead, several wounded in 2 suicide bomb attacks in Tunisian capital
• Tunisia president hospitalised “in severe health crisis”- presidency
• Law passed to restrict foreign film production in Tanzania
• Securiy forces use tear gas to disperse students in Sudan’s Khartoum
• Accident at Glencore mine kills at least 41 in Congo
• Morocco prosecutor seeks death sentences in Scandinavian women murder trial
• South African cement firm PPC’s profits boosted by cost cuts
• South Africa’s Grand Parade appoints acting CEO as new head
• UK’s Harry and Meghan head to Africa for first family tour
• Africa Oil – Angolan July overhang clears on signs of optimism for WAF
• Swiss govt to mediate Cameroon peace talks
• Violence affects more people than ever before in Africa’s Sahel
• Zambia court blocks asset sale by Konkola Copper Mines liquidator
• Uber targest expansion in fast-growing West African markets
• Twin attacks threaten new Ethiopian govt reforms
• MTN Nigeria shares drop to 5-wk low as $2 bln tax case adjourned to Oct
• Tanzania’s agric export earnings fall by more than half – central bank
• ‘Peace ambassadors’ ease water conflict in drought-prone Kenya

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