By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Stocks inch up on trade hopes but growth fears temper gains
• S&P 500 futures gain after Mnuchin comments on trade talks
• Dismal euro zone data hurts euro, deepens anxiety about economy

Oil Markets

• Oil eases as global demand concerns return, overshadowing Saudi supply
• Saudi could resume full post-attack output next week – source
• US oil inventories likely fell last week – Reuters poll
• Brent down 29 cents at $64.48 per barrel (0154GMT)
• WTI down 24 cents at $58.40 per barrel

Precious metals

• Gold steady below 2-wk peak, trade talks optimism weighs
• Spot gold little changed at $1,521.01/oz. (0155GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.3% at $1,527.1/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans slip; Chinese buys of North American supplies cap losses
• Wheat futures down 0.3% at $4.81-3/4 per bushel (0103GMT)
• Corn futures down 0.3% at $3.72 per bushel
• Soy futures down 0.1% at $8.91-3/4 per bushel
• Rice futures down 0.4% at $12.01 per hundredweight

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

• Central Bank of Kenya’s Njoroge post-MPC press conference
• UNGA continues; Nigeria’s Buhari to speak
• South Africa National Heritage Day; Ramaphosa speech from Northern Cape

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

• Trump backs Egypt’s Sisi in face of some protests back home
• Nigeria’ will do ‘whatever it takes’ to shield country from $9 bln claim
• Algeria to maintain foreign ownership limit in new energy law
• Nigeria must address housing crisis and end forced evictions – UN rapporteur
• Egypt authorities round up hundreds after rare protests
• Aid group says vaccine ‘rationing’ in Congo is hampering ebola fight
• Nigeria attorney general expects “colossal” sums from oil majors
• Africa Oil – Saudi attacks yet to alter West African market
• South African rand firmer against dollar, seen on backfoot
• UK’s Harry & Meghan start South African tour in Nyanga township
• Zimbabwe capital city shuts main water plant, shortages loom
• Kenya central bank holds rates at 9% for the seventh time in a row
• Sudan announces 9-mth plan to rescue economy, tame inflation
• Algeria’s one-time kingmaker goes on trial
• Egypt extends losses amid uncertainty over protests
• Thomas Cook operator in Egypt says 25,000 bookings cancelled – statement
• Sudan will ask World Bank for $2 bln in support – finmin
• Thomas Cook owes Tunisia hotels 60 mln euros – minister
• Kenya classroom collapse kills 7 children, injures 64
• Aid group says WHO is restricting access to ebola vaccines in Congo
• From Indonesia to Gabon, countries turn to nature to cut climate risks
• Uganda shilling unchanged, importer demand flat
• Sudan launches 9-mth rescue plans – finmin
• Zimbabwe’s Mugabe died from cancer, president says
• Kenya shilling holds steady against end-month demand
• Egypt dollar bonds slip on protests, pound weakens in FX forward market
• Tanzania fines 5 banks for lax anti-money laundering controls
• Tap for trash: App seeks to clean Zimbabwe’s waste-clogged cities

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