By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares advance on US-China trade progress, ECB easing
• Ex-Japan Asia MSCI up 0.3%, Nikkei gains 1.0%
• S&P 500 near record peak hit in late July
• Euro, bonds lose steam on profit-taking after ECB

Oil Markets

• Oil falls as spectre of US-China trade war haunts market
• Brent down 0.3% at $60.21 a barrel (0053GMT)
• WTI down 0.3% at $54.95 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold treads water as trade optimism lifts risk assets
• Spot gold flat at $1,497.81/oz. (0105GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.1% at $1,505.50/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans dip, but set for biggest weekly gain in 3 mths
• Wheat futures unchanged at $4.83-3/4 per bushel (0017GMT)
• Corn futures down 0.1% at $3.67 per bushel
• Soy futures down 0.1% at $8.94-1/4 per bushel
• Rice futures down 0.2% at $12.16 per hundredweight

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

• ECOWAS summit; ministers meet today, presidents tomorrow
• 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]

• Nigeria plans VAT increase in push to raise non-oil revenue
• Tunisia’s exiled autocrat in hospital – lawyer
• De Beers Namibia diamond venture sells mine to local consortium
• 10 killed in stampede at Mozambique election rally
• Thousands demand justice for slain protesters in Sudan
• South Africa’s rand firms on ECB decision, trade hopes, stocks gain
• Kenya bans foreigners from adopting local children
• Africa Oil – Nigerian offers hold strong, Angolan weakening
• Zimbabwe – Mugabe’s family says burial to be private, in snub to successor
• Kenya targets officials’ overseas trips in “brutal” spending cuts
• Tanzania leader sacks spy chief ahead of polls
• Sudan PM visits South Sudan to back new peace roadmap with rebels
• South Africa’s Mr Price suspends 2 senior managers
• Up to 50 dead in Congo after train derails
• OPEC members Iraq, Nigeria agree to cut oil output
• Jailed Tunisia presidency frontrunner starts hunger strike
• Rare black rhinos relocated to Tanzania in Serengeti repopulation plan
• South Africa regulator fines Steinhoff for misleading markets
• Kenya to cut budget deficit to 4.8% of GDP in 2020/21
• Egypt’s Sisi selects new public prosecutor – sources
• Tanzania court adjourns case of prominent jailed journalist for 4^th time
• Kenya’s finance minister pledges “brutal” spending cuts to rein in deficit
• Algeria looks into allowing foreign ownership in some sectors
• African telecoms firm Helios Towers revives London listing plans
• Detained mogul’s presidential run tests Tunisia’s democracy

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