By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Stocks rattled as Trump impeachment bid raises new risks
• Push for Trump impeachment increases political risk
• Asian stocks track Wall Street lower

Oil Markets

• Oil extends losses after Trump’s comments douse trade talk optimism
• Trump’s China rebuke Sino-US trade talks
• Saudi buys oil from Mideast producers for overseas refineries – sources
• API data shows surprise build in US crude inventories last week
• Brent down 46 cents at $62.64 a barrel (0104GMT)
• WTI down 40 cents at $56.89

Precious metals

• Gold steady as Trump’s impeachment inquiry stokes risk-off mood
• Spot gold little changed at $1,532.20/oz. (0122GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.1% at $1,539.5/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans extend gains, US-China trade dispute caps upside
• Wheat futures down 0.2% at $4.80-3/4 per bushel (0022GMT)
• Corn futures up 0.3% at $3.75-3/4 per bushel
• Soy futures up 0.2% at $8.95-3/4 per bushel
• Rice futures down 0.4% at $11.96 per hundredweight

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

• UNGA continues; Leaders of Namibia, Ghana, Mali, Angola & Liberia to speak

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

• Algeria jails 2 ex-intelligence chiefs for 15 yrs – media
• Tunisia hotels affected by the collapse of Thomas Cook
• Egypt, Qatar trade barbs at UN on Libya conflict interference
• Morocco holds interest rate, cuts reserve rate to free liquidity
• Algeria army chief criticises protesters for rejecting election
• Indian rare earth miner V.V. Mineral targets African assets after local ban
• Egypt hands life sentence to Egyptian plane hijacker
• Ethiopia seeks adviser for privatisation of telecoms operator
• Africa Oil – Offers for light Nigerian crude stay high
• Kenya’s Mumias Sugar placed under receivership – KCB Group
• Egypt’s Sisi says need to stop external actors interfering in Libya
• Ghana arrests 3 people for plot against president
• South Africa – Harry & Meghan dance with youth mentors, visit Cape Town mosque
• Nigeria court orders release of activist charged with treason
• Rwanda president’s rival worried after second aid is killed this year
• Egypt share index falls 4.2% on protests, wiping out 2019 gains
• Zimbabwe’s capital resumes pumping water temporarily
• Kenya central banker sees easing cycle if fiscal cuts sustained
• Nigeria will do ‘whatever it takes’ to shield country from $9 bln claim
• Morocco central bank holds benchmark interest rate at 2.25%
• Algeria annual inflation drops slightly in August
• Tanzania summons WHO rep over ebola complaint
• Fire kills 8 infants in Algeria hospital
• Uganda shilling unchanged, expected to strengthen due to charity inflows
• UN runs clubs for Libyan children, after conflict disrupts schools
• Kenya central bank says banking sector consolidation to continue
• Kenya cental bank says inflation unaffected by oil price spike
• South Africa rides investor demand to raise $5 bln from bonds sale

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