By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares nudge higher on stimulus hopes, recession fears ease
• Risk aversion eases on stimulus hopes
• Stocks get a boost, bond yields rebound
• Chinese shares choppy after loan prime rate cut
• Traders look to policymakers for stimulus clues

Oil Markets

• Oil prices slip, but supported by hopes trade tensions could ease
• OPEC sees bearish oil market for rest of 2019
• Brent down about 0.1% at $59.71 a barrel (0147GMT)
• WTI down 0.3% at $56.06

Precious metals

• Gold firms below $1,500 after slide
• Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,496.80/oz. (0050GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.4% at $1,505.90

Grains

• Corn firms on USDA crop condition report
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.2% at $4.73-1/4 per bushel (0043GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 0.6% at $3.76-3/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.4% at $8.70-1/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures up about 0.1% at $11.04 per hundredweight

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

• Nigeria’s Buhari retreat for new cabinet; day 2
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa coordinating council (PCC) inaugural meeting
• WHO Africa regional conference in Brazzaville; 19-23 Aug
• 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]

• Regional Somali airport refues to allow Ethiopian plane to land
• Pompeo, in call with Egypt’s Shoukry, urges political solution in Libya
• South Sudan president replaces foreign minister
• At least 10 Burkina Faso soldiers killed in militant attack
• Police, soldiers patrol Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo as opposition protest thwarted
• Africa Oil – Angolan preliminary programme shows slight export drop
• Chad declares state of emergency in 3 regions due to security problems
• South Africa’s rand falls as investors weigh local, global risks
• Egypt to reopen historic Baron Empain Palace after $6 mln restoration
• Egypt sells 610 mln euros in euro-denominated t-bills – central bank
• Nigeria c.bank to defend reserves in wake of UK $9 bln court ruling
• Ex-Sudan president got millions from Saudis, court hears
• Nigerian dealers seek 1-yr t-bills at 14% as naira weakens – traders
• Tourism revenue in Tunisia grows 44% y/y
• Sudan’s ousted Bashir told investigators he got millions from Saudi Arabia – court witness
• UK $9 bln court ruling impacted Nigeria’s monetary policy – cenbank head
• Nigeria cbank head meets London fund managers – sources
• At least 19 dead after fuel truck crash in western Uganda – police
• Uganda shilling unchanged amid sluggish importer demand
• Ebola spreads to remote, militia-run Congo territory
• Egypt’s bourse chairman says he expects IPO of private company this year
• With reservoirs at risk Sierra Leone capital confronts water crisis

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