By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares slip before Fed decision on trade deal worries
• MSCI world index stays near 21-mth high
• Investors expect Fed to cut rates, focus on policy outlook

Oil Markets

• Oil prices drop, US falls for 3^rd day as Cushing stocks rise
• Brent down 0.2% at $61.44 a barrel (0118GMT)
• WTI down 0.3% at $55.36

Precious metals

• Gold steady on potential trade delay; focus on Fed rate decision
• Spot gold steady at $1,488.23/oz (0114GMT)
• US gold futures unchanged at $1,490.40/oz

Grains

• Corn firms on concerns over US harvest pace
• Wheat futures up 0.2% at $5.12-1/2 per bushel (0132GMT)
• Corn futures up 0.2% at $3.87 per bushel
• Soy futures up 0.1% at $9.19-1/4 per bushel
• Rice futures unchanged at $11.93 per hundredweight

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

• South Africa medium term budget statement by finmin Mboweni [fcst: 2019/20 (-4.3% of GDP), 2020/21 (-4.1%), 2021/22 (-4.4%)]
• Nigeria’s Supreme Court to hear appeal by opposition PDP on presidential election tribunal verdict
• 4^th AU Judicial Dialogue in Kampala, Uganda; 30 Oct-1 Nov
• Nigeria’s Buhari & Kenya’s Kenyatta in Saudi Arabia for 3^rd Future Investment Initiative
• South Africa’s Mabuza in China for bi-national commission; 31 Oct – 3 Nov
• Zambia inflation Oct-19 [fcst. 10.6% yy, prev. 10.5%]
• 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]

• Kenyan parliamentary panel recommends rate cap repeal – report
• Senegal SNE oil field capital cost jumps 40% to $4.2 bln
• At least 42 people killed in Cameroon landslide
• Migrants released amid fighting in Libyan capital seek refuge with UN
• Ethiopia’s govt releases activists accused over unrest in June – journalist
• US senior diplomat slams Egypt’s treatment of journalist
• South Africa’s rand dips before budget speech
• Egypt says Washington to host Nov.6 meeting on Ethiopia dam dispute
• Mozambique’s main opposition party appeals election result
• US pitted against UK, France, South Africa, others at UN over abortion
• Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery to rely on ports, roads for fuel deliveries
• South Africa plans sweeping power sector reform as Eskom struggles
• Africa Oil – Nigerian price offers rebound as freight costs ease
• Guinea-Bissau president names new PM but old one refuses to go
• Volkswagen brings electric cars to Rwanda for ride-hailing service
• Libya reopens Tripoli’s Mitiga airport after 2 months of closure
• Zimbabwe central bank to introduce new dollar note and coins
• LMEWEEK – Cobalt market to avoid shortage despite Congo mine closure – Nornickel
• Tunisia dismisses foreign, defence ministers – statement
• Chevron seeks to reduce Nigerian presence with oilfield sales
• South Sudan to offer oil blocks for licensing by Q1 2020
• South Africa aims to complete Eskom split around 2022
• Kenyan team aims to stop fatal snake bites
• MTN’s $2 bln Nigerian tax dispute case set for Jan 30-31
• South Africa hopes to announce new Eskom CEO next week – Gordhan
• Egypt’s first smartphone maker to export to Germany next month
• South Africa’s Q3 unemployment rate at 29.1%, 11-year high
• Kenya shilling firms on horticulture inflows, weak demand
• Zimababwe hikes fuel prices 12%, hitting inflation-weary consumers
• Uganda shilling strengthens, helped by aid organisations inflows
• African Export-Import Bank puts London listing plan on ice
• South Africa’s credit demand growth slows to 6.19% yy in September
• ‘We know we made mistakes’ on 737 MAX – Boeing CEO

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