By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares edge higher, pound stumbles on Brexit drama
• Asian shares shake off early losses
• Pound down after delay to a crucial vote on Brexit

Oil Markets

• Oil prices dip on weak demand outlook, supply concerns
• Brent down 0.2% at $59.32 a barrel (0108GMT)
• WTI down 0.2% at $53.69

Precious metals

• Gold holds steady above $1,490 on Brexit uncertainties
• Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,490.60/oz. (0047GMT)
• US gold futures little changed at $1,494.20/oz.

Grains

• Chicago wheat drops 1% after rally; corn, soybeans down
• Wheat futures down 1% at $5.27 per bushel (0051GMT)
• Corn futures down 0.5% at $3.89-1/4 per bushel
• Soy futures down 0.2% at $9.32 per bushel
• Rice futures unchanged at $11.91 per hundredweight

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

• Russia-Africa summit in Sochi; 23-25 Oct [Nigeria’s Buhari jets out today]
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa speech at 60^th anniversary of The African Communist seminar

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

• South Africa President Ramaphosa: govt will soon announce Eskom CEO, stronger board
• Sudan names commission to investigate killings at sit-in
• Somalia aims to reduce poverty, pump up infrastructure after debt erased
• Egypt to press for outside mediator in Ethiopia dam dispute
• South Sudan’s Machar says unlikely to be part of unity govt by Nov. 12
• Barrick Gold reaches deal with Tanzania over Acacia Mining
• Shell Egypt to sell assets in Western Desert
• Egypt’s Qalaa to raise production capacity to 5.5 mln tonnes/yr in 2021
• Militants kill 5 in twin attacks on Burkina army outposts – army
• IMF chief Georgieva says supports debt relief for Somalia
• Egypt signs agreement with Euroclear to widen its domestic debt investors
• Mozambique’s Nyusi takes election lead, opposition cries foul
• Egypt unveils biggest ancient coffin find in over a century
• Mali army says it killed 50 militants, freed soldiers in counter attack
• Morocco forecasts stable 2020 fiscal deficit of 3.5%
• Ebola concentrated in Congo mining area, still an emergency – WHO
• Nigeria cenbank injects $325 mln, 14 mln yuan into currency market
• African debt stabilising but region faces headwinds – IMF
• South African power generation plan keeps coal in the mix
• South Africa’s rand rides optimism over new power plan
• Sudan, rebel groups agree on roadmap for peace talks
• Angola FX market overhaul sees kwanza tumble to record lows
• Africa Oil – Freight costs ease, especially for VLCCs
• Namibia president set for re-election next month amid economic crisis
• UN rights office urges Egypt to free blogger, lawyer, journalist
• Egypt embassy in Lebanon calls on its nationals to avoid protest areas
• South Africa looks to procure new power urgently to address outages
• Egypt says strategic wheat reserves enough to cover its needs until February
• Coal to play significant role in South Africa power mix – minister
• Syrah Resources to cut jobs, output at Mozambique graphite project
• South Africa set for third day of power cuts on generation shortfall
• Angola hopes key reforms will aid efforts to sell oil assets

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