By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares rise to 3-mth highs, dollar awaits for Fed
• MSCI ex-Japan rises for a third straight day
• Japan’s Nikkei hits decade high
• Share sentiment boosted by trade talks, earnings
• Eyes on US Fed rate decision, Brexit developments

Oil Markets

• Oil holds steady as Russia reaffirms commitment to outupt cuts
• Brent down 1 cent at $62.01 a barrel (0055GMT)
• WTI down 4 cents at $56.62

Precious metals

• Gold steady as Sino-U.S trade tensions ease
• Spot gold steady at $1,504.60/oz. (0059GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.1% at $1,507.40/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans rebound from 2-wk low, US harvest caps gains
• Wheat futures down 0.5% at $5.15-1/4 per bushel (0016GMT)
• Corn futures down 0.1% at $3.86-1/4 per bushel
• Soy futures up 0.4% at $9.23-3/4 per bushel
• Rice futures down 0.1% at $12.04 per hundredweight

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

• Nigeria’s Buhari heads to Saudi Arabia for 3^rd Future Investment Initiative
• South Africa state capture inquiry resumes
• Guinea’s Conde & Equatorial Guinea’s Obiang in Turkey

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

• Mozambique’s Nyusi retains power after sweeping victory in disputed poll
• Saudi dips on weak earnings; proper shares aid Egypt
• President Filipe Nyusi wins 73% of vote in election – election commission
• Tanzania Q2 GDP growth rises to 7.2% v 6.1% – statistics bureau
• Booker Prize winner Evaristo hopes to build ties with African and British readers
• Violence during Ethiopian protests was ethnically tinged, say eyewitnesses
• Tanzania state carrier aims to double fleet to 14 planes by 2022: official
• US imposes sanctions on Zimbabwe’s state security minister
• Nigeria has no plans to go to international debt market this year
• Moroccan activist on hunger strike admitted to prison clinic – lawyer, family say
• Russia affirms close oil cooperation with Saudi Arabia, OPEC+
• Prominent activist won’t rule out election challenge to Ethiopia PM
• 67 people killed in protests in Ethiopia’s Oromiya region – police
• South Africa’s rand firmer as investors await next week’s budget
• Libya’s NOC September revenues slip to $1.8 bln vs August
• Zimbabwe’s president says Western sanctions a “cancer” eating at economy
• Africa Oil – Oil volumes eastward steady for October amid freight crunch
• From Ethiopia to Australia, the promises and pitfalls of tourism for good
• Somalia says Shell, Exxon agree to pay $1.7 mln for oil blocks lease
• Egypt reopens Alexandria and Dekheila ports after closure for bad weather
• Morocco arrests 6 suspected jihadists – police spokesman
• Botswana’s Masisi retains presidency as BDP wins election
• Japan’s Univergy to invest $200 mln in Zambia solar power
• Uganda shilling a notch stronger on slowing demand by banks, importers
• CAR considers hosting Russian military base – RIA
• Botswana’s ruling party BDP wins general election – Chief Justice
• Egypt’s farmers tackle climate change with comedy and community

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