By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Global shares at 1-mth low on US manufacturing shock
• US manufacturing ISM survey hits decade low
• Bulls hope US-China talks will ease manufacturing woes
• Fed fund futures price in 80% chance of Fed rate cut in Oct
• Hong Kong stocks down 0.8%, in line with regional shares

Oil Markets

• Oil recovers ground after US data shows crude stock build
• US crude stocks fell 5.9 mln bbls last week – API
• Ecuador says it will leave OPEC from Jan. 1
• Brent up 52 cents at $59.41 a barrel (0138GMT)
• WTI up 61 cents at $54.23

Precious metals

• Gold inches up as weak US data reinforces economic slowdown fears
• Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,479.43/oz. (0121GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.2% at $1,485.4/oz.

Grains

• Soybean futures retreat from more than 2-mth high
• Wheat futures down 0.4% at $4.96-3/4 per bushel (0041GMT)
• Corn futures down 0.3% at $3.91-1/2 per bushel
• Soy futures down 0.2% at $9.17-1/2 per bushel
• Rice futures down 0.1% at $11.86 per hundredweight

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

• Nigeria’s Buhari state visit to South Africa; 2-4 Oct
• 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]

• Egypt financial services group Pioneers Holding plans 3-way split
• Algeria to slash spending, seek foreign debt
• Algeria to seek foreign loans in 2020 – finmin
• Tunisia presidential candidate to stay in jail, testing democracy
• Ethiopia Airlines annual revenue up 29% – govt official
• South Africa to pay more for debt until fiscal problems addressed – central bank
• South Africa rand slides as risk appetite wanes
• Africa Oil – Angolan still offered high despite glut, freight costs
• US, DOJ closes Nigeria, Algeria investigations into Eni
• Algeria to cut public spending by 9.2% in 2020 – finmin
• Kenya says it kills 3 militants planning attacks in Mombasa
• Egypt gets back looted coffin displayed in New York
• Egypt stock exchange in venture with supply ministry on commodities
• Egypt says restored food subsidies to nearly 2 mln after Sisi tweets
• Zimbabwe’s president pleads for patience in bringing economy back from “dead”
• Egypt restored subsidies for 1.8 mln since February – ministry
• Nigeria says will cut output to conform to OPEC pact
• Thai PM says no Islamic State ties to Thailand as Egypt arrests student
• South Africa’s Absa PMI falls to lowest in 10 yrs on growth fears
• Mass repatriation of Burundi refugees in Tanzania to start on Thursday – official
• Lawyer for Tanzania journalist appeals to president for pardon
• Uganda shilling steady as commodities and charity flows offer support
• South Africa’s AMCU refers platinum wage dispute to commission
• Somalia fights to standardise schools with first new curriculum since civil war began
• Ethiopia dam official blames construction delays on conglomerate METEC
• Court postpones hearing again for Tanzania journalist jailed since July
• Kenya shilling trading in a tight range amid excess liquidity
• First Burundi refugees in Tanzania to return home as mass repatriation starts – official
• Nigeria Sept crude oil and condensate output 2.1-2.2 mbpd – NNPC director
• South Africa’s Blue Label Telecoms under threat of listing suspension
• Nigeria’s NNPC hopes to raise oil output to about 3 mln bpd in 2-3 years
• UK’s Prince Harry to visit Malawi health centre
• Congo mine deploys digital weapons in fight against conflict minerals

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