By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Oil surges, stock futures slip after attack on Saudi facility
• Oil prices surge on fears of global supply disruption
• Safe haven gold, Japanese yen rise, stock futures slip
• Japan markets closed for public holiday, liquidity seen thin

Oil Markets

• Oil prices soar 10% after attack on Saudi facilities hits global supply
• Brent, WTI reach highest at the opening since May
• Attack on Saudi oil facilities cuts Saudi output by 5.7 mln bpd
• Trump approves release of SPR
• Saudi likely to purchase refined products
• Brent up 11.7% at $67.28 per barrel (0108GMT); was up more than 19% at opening
• WTI up 10.5% at $60.60; jumped more than 15% at opening

Precious metals

• Gold gains as attacks on Saudi oil plants lift safe haven bets
• Spot gold up 1.2% at $1,506.87/oz. (0050GMT)
• US gold futures up 1.1% at $1,516.10/oz.

Grains

• Corn hits 17-day high on prospects of more ethanol demand
• Corn futures up 0.7% at $3.71-1/4 a bushel (0053GMT)
• Soybean futures up 0.3% at $9.01-3/4 a bushel
• Wheat futures up 0.2% at $4.84-1/2 a bushel

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

• Nigeria’s Bande to assume UNGA presidency in New York
• Nile dam talks between Ethiopia, Sudan & Egypt in Cairo
• Nigeria inflation Aug-19 [fcst. 11.0% yy, prev. 11.1%]
• 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]

• Algeria to hold presidential election this year – interim president
• Tunisia candidate Kais Saied says exit poll shows him leading
• Spokesman for Tunisia candidate Karoui says he is through to next round
• Polls close in first round of Tunisia presidential election
• Egypt resumes Nile dam talks with Ethiopia, Sudan
• Tunisia electoral head urges youth to vote with turnout seeming low
• Somaliland UAE military base to be turned into civilian airport
• Egypt’s economy to grow by 8% annually by 2022 – PM
• Egypt expects share offerings by end of year – official
• Congo police detain former health minister in ebola probe
• West African leaders pledge $1 bln to fight Islamist threat
• Egypt Sisi rebuffs videos alleging corruption
• Tears and tributes as leaders, supporters bid farewell to Zimbabwe’s Mugabe
• Foreign leaders, supporters bid farewell to Zimbabwe’s Mugabe
• South Africa’a deputy mines minister dies in car accident
• 5 confirmed cholera deaths in Sudan since Aug. 28
• ‘This is our home’: Kenya islanders demand say in foreign-backed projects
• 3 Libya eastern fighters killed in strike near Tripoli
• Mugabe to be buried at Zimbabwe national shrine in about 30 days, nephew says
• US sanctions former Uganda police boss for rights violations
• Ivory Coast, Ghana strike first cocoa deals with living income premium
• WHO investigating death in Tanzania due to unknown illness
• Africa Oil – Nigerian offers hold strong, Angolan weakening
• South Africa’s rand firms as trade optimism lifts risk assets, stocks up
• Zambia cuts 2019 economic growth forecast after drought
• Thousands march in Algeria, say no election before elite quits
• Zimbabwe hikes lending rate to 70% to tackle inflation
• In fuel-short Mali, farmers find money in saving tree stumps
• Zimbabwe is serious about reform, needs outside support, foreign minister says
• Tunisia court keeps presidential candidate in detention – lawyer
• Ethiopian Airlines revenue jumps with rise in passenger numbers
• Kenya becomes 3^rd African nation to introduce malaria vaccine
• Death toll in Congo’s train accident revised down to 15
• Zambia president says 2019 economic growth forecast cut to 2%
• Kenya shilling holds steady against the dollar
• South Africa likely to miss 1.5% growth target – finmin
• World Bank lifts aid embargo, approves $450 mln loan for Tanzania
• South Africa’s rand firms as global monetary easing takes spotlight

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