By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares falter as US-China trade war, recession worries weigh
• MSCI Asia ex-Japan -0.17%
• Gold regains some lustre near $1,500/oz
• Sterling near Jan. 2017 lows vs. dollar

Oil Markets

• Oil prices fall on worries over demand growth outlook
• Brent down 0.5% at $58.25 a barrel (0007GMT)
• WTI down 0.4% at $54.28

Precious metals

• Gold lingers near $1,500/oz. on trade, recession concerns
• Spot gold steady at $1,496.99/oz. (0114GMT)
• US gold futures flat at $1,508.50/oz.

Grains

• US corn, soybeans ease ahead of key USDA report
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.4% at $4.97-1/2 per bushel (0035GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 0.7% at $4.14-3/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures down 0.6% at $8.86-3/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures unchanged at $11.37 per hundredweight

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

• Guinea’s Conde in Nigeria
• South Africa PIC inquiry resumes
• South Africa state capture inquiry resumes

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

• WHO says no new ebola cases in Goma, vaccinates over 1,300
• Car bomb explodes in Libya’s Benghazi, killing 3 UN staff
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa asks court to seal certain documents in legal battle
• UN condemns Libya car bomb that killed 2 UN staff
• Landlocked eSwatini report says ministers must tighten belts to help lift economy
• Libya’s Haftar announces halt to military operations during Eid al-Adha
• Tanzania tanker blast kills dozens as crowd siphons fuel
• Libya govt accepts UN ceasefire proposal, implementation unclear
• Ethiopia to hold national election next year
• Ethiopia’s ruling coalition confirms national election next year
• Senior West African crude oil trader leaves Glencore – sources
• Kenya’s East African Portland Cement withdraws notice dismissing workforce
• Nigeria naira weakens on falling oil prices, lower bond yields
• African Oil – Angolan September cargoes clear
• Burkina forces move to secure attacked Avesoro mine after 1 killed
• Somalia says blind female suicide bomber killed Mogadishu mayor
• Zambia asks Glencore unit to rescind mine shaft closures
• Tunisia PM Chahed enters crowded race in presidential vote
• Ivory Coast cocoa season grindings up 8% to 455,000 T – exporters
• UK, US urge Tanzania to respect “due process” after journalist arrested
• Kenya shilling firms against the dollar
• Uganda shilling inclined on weaker side on interbank appetite
• Demand for Nigerian oil “dire” as US competition ramps up
• Kenya’s KCB Group to boost investments in South Sudan
• Eritrea’s military service still “repressive” despite peace deal – HRW

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