By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia shares cautious in case Powell closes rate door
• Asian shares mixed in quiet trade
• Bull hope Fed Chairman Powell will sound dovish enough
• Dollar supported as Treasury yields edge up from lows
• Oil prices up as US stockpiles fall

Oil Markets

• Oil rises more than 1% after US stockpile drop; Brent nears $65
• Brent up 1.1% at $64.85 per barrel (0027GMT)
• WTI up 1.5% at $58.73

Precious metals

• Gold dips as dollar ticks higher, all eyes on Fed
• Spot gold down 0.4% at $1,391.98 per ounce (0103GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.4% at $1,394.40 an ounce

Grains

• Corn falls 1% to 1-wk low on easing yield worries
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.7% at $4.99-1/2 per bushel (0212GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 1% at $4.33 per bushel
• Most active soy futures down 0.3% at $9.01-1/2 per bushel
• Most active rice futures down 0.4% at $11.84 per hundredweight

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

• 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]

• Morocco revises 2019 growth forecast down to 2.7%
• Libya – At least 100 migrants walk free from shelled detention cente in Tripoli
• South Sudan court rules against of marriage of girl, 16, in landmark case
• Zimbabwe public workers reject $21 mln pay rise
• Moroccan jailed by Portugal for recruiting for Syrian war
• Nigeria parliament on lockdown after clash with Shi’ite group
• Nigerian Shi’ite group say police shot at them outside parliament
• Africa Oil – Diffs supported by firmer gasoline margins
• South Africa’s rand steady as traders eye Fed, stocks down
• South African platinum firms kick off wage talks
• Some internet service restored in Sudan after court ruling
• Zimbabwe lawmaker charged with subversion over Mnangagwa threat
• Airtel Africa lists in Nigeria
• Determined to reach Europe, migrants defy Morocco’s crackdown
• South African central bank stresses importance of independence
• Kenya shilling firms, helped by investors buying bonds

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