By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia shares tumble as Hong Kong unrest, Argentine peso crash unnerve investors
• Hong Kong protests unsettle markets
• Sentiment already weak due to US-China trade war
• Risk-off trades supports safe-haven assets

Oil Markets

• Oil prices edge down as traders weigh slowing demand against supply curbs
• Brent down 0.2% at $58.46 a barrel (0108GMT)
• WTI down 0.2% at $54.81

Precious metals

• Gold firms near 6-yr peak on risk-off sentiment
• Spot gold up 0.3% at $1,515.21/oz. (0116GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.5% at $1,525.10

Grains

• Chicago corn prices fall near 3-mth low on US crop outlook
• Most active CBOT wheat futures down 0.4% at $4.70 per bushel (0011GMT)
• Most active corn futures down 2% at $3.85 per bushel
• Most active soy futures down 0.1% at $8.78-1/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures nearly unchanged at $11.57 per hundredweight

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

• Botswana’s Masisi working visit to Angola
• Ghana Karpowership to be off power grid (up to 17 days) during move to Western Region in 13-16 Aug
• Guinea’s Conde cultural visit to Nigeria continues
• South Africa PIC inquiry continues
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues

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

• Scientists hail promise of first effective ebola treatments in Congo trial
• Congo Republic oil find could quadruple national output – company
• Africa Oil – Indian tender helps mop up Nigerian overhang
• South Africa’s rand slips to near 11-mth worst as local politics weigh
• South Africa’s Absa bank says has found new CEO, to be named in due course
• South Africa’s Northam Platinum expects FY profits to rise by over 100%
• Geneve prosecutors indict billionaire Steinmetz in Guinea corruption case
• Congo trial of ebola treatments switches to focus on two drugs
• Uganda shilling unchanged amid some commodity flows, flat importer demand
• ‘Green gold’: Kenya farmers abandon food crops to grow herbal stimulant
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa wins latest round of legal fight with anti-corruption watchdog
• South Africa’s rand weaker as local politics weigh

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