By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Bond yields near record lows, shares struggle on darkening global outlook
• Yields on US 30-yr bonds, 10-yr German bunds at record low
• Gold near 6-yr high, silver shines
• Stocks in Asia flat in early trade

Oil Markets

• Oil prices hold gains after US inventory drawdown
• Brent down 0.1% at $60.42 a barrel (0011GMT)
• WTI up 0.1% at $55.84 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold prices rise on economic political turmoil
• Spot gold up 0.2% to $1,542.35/oz. (0142GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.1% at $1,550.50/oz.

Grains

• Corn firms, lingers near 1-wk high on weather outlook
• Most active CBOT wheat futures up 0.1% at $4.75-3/4 per bushel (0045GMT)
• Most active corn futures up 0.7% at $3.73-3/4 per bushel
• Most active soy futures up 0.2% at $8.67-1/4 per bushel
• Most active rice futures unchanged at $11.65 per hundredweight

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

• South Africa producer inflation Jul-2019 [fcst. 5.6% yy, prev. 5.8%]
• 7^th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (#TICAD7) in Yokohama, Japan; 28-30 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]

• At least 7 people die in flash floods in southern Morocco
• More than 50 abducted on attack on northwest Nigerian village – residents
• From Yemen to South Sudan, climate & water stress seen worsening conflict
• Nigeria closes part of border with Benin to check rice smuggling
• South Africa’s Aveng delays release of full-year results until Aug 29
• Africa – More people, less water? Scientists see risks on upper Nile
• Africa Oil – Angolan offers pared back
• South Africa’s rand dips as investors tread cautiously, stocks up
• South Africa’s Eskom may need more bailouts if funding plan fails
• Zambia opposition leader arrested, accused of defaming president – lawyer
• US gives Tunisia $335 mln in financial aid over 5 years
• Congo intelligence service orders audit of interim govt spending
• Tunisia’s Zbidi says he will amend constitution if elected president
• Kenya anti-graft body halts Telkom, Airtel merger to conduct probe
• Kenya shilling under pressure amid end-mth dollar demand
• Uganda rejects planned power plant at Murchison Falls
• South African drugstore Dis-Chem benefits from medicine price hike
• Uganda shilling unchanged amid thin trading volumes
• Russia state-controlled grain trader looks to sell grain to Egypt
• Kenya anti-graft body EACC suspends planned merger of Telkom Kenya, Airtel Kenya – spokesman
• South Africa’s Eskom may need more bailouts by end-March – Treasury
• Kenya’s Nation Media Group first-half profit falls 24%
• South Africa’s Adcock Ingram posts higher FY profit, unloads Ghana investment
• South Africa’s Bidcorp full-year profit rises 12.5%
• Noble Energy makes oil discovery off Equatorial Guinea – minister

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