By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian stocks edge higher after Fed rate cut
• Fed cuts rates as expected but signals pause
• BOJ keeps policy on hold
• Policymakers struggle to dead with risks to growth

Oil Markets

• Oil prices extend fall after surprise inventory build
• Brent down 6 cents at $60.55 a barrel (0033GMT)
• WTI down 16 cents at $54.90

Precious metals

• Gold inches up on Fed rate cut cheer, sombre dollar
• Spot gold up 0.3% at $1,499.06/oz. (0137GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.3% at $1,501.40/oz

Grains

• Corn falls more than 1-wk high, but harvesting delay fears cap losses
• Wheat futures up 0.3% at $5.10-1/2 per bushel (0048GMT)
• Corn futures down 0.1% at $3.90-1/2 per bushel
• Soy futures up 0.3% at $9.33 per bushel
• Rice futures unchanged at $12.0 per hundredweight

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

• South Africa producer inflation Sep-19 [fcst. 4.3% yy, prev. 4.5%]
• South Africa trade balance Sep-19 [prev. ZAR6.84B]
• Kenya consumer inflation Oct-19 [fcst. 4.9% yy, prev. 3.8%]
• Uganda consumer inflation Oct-19 [fcst. 2.8% yy, prev. 1.9%]
• 4^th AU Judicial Dialogue in Kampala, Uganda; 30 Oct-1 Nov
• South Africa’s Mabuza in China for bi-national commission; 31 Oct – 3 Nov
• 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]

• Russia’s VTB hopes Mozambique will repay $500 mln loan on scandal-ridden project
• Kenya’s economy to grow at a faster pace next year – World Bank
• EU countries to give Sudan 466 mln euros in grants, aid – SUNA
• Nigeria supreme court dismisses appeal against Buhari election win
• Senegal launches online database to track the traffickers
• South African union threatens more power cuts over Eskom split
• South Africa CDS jump after budget flags wider deficits
• Africa Oil – Angolan offered at high levels
• Egyptian ticket collector held after ordering men off moving train, 1 dead
• Facebook says it suspends accounts tied to Putin ally for meddling in Africa
• Nigeria’s revenue quest could crush offshore oil golden egg – industry group
• South African rand plummets on bleak budget projections
• Egypt external debt climbs 17.3% in year to June – cbank
• Algerian protesters march on in defiance of ‘The Power’
• South Africa sees budget deficit and debt soaring as economy flags
• Total not ready to make final investment decision on Uganda project – CFO
• South Africa dollar bonds drop after medium term budget flags wider deficits
• South Sudan’s Machar urges delay to unity govt as peace efforts stall
• IOM suspends some ebola screening after 3 aid workers killed in South Sudan
• Nigerian Supreme Court dismisses appeal against Buhari election win
• South Africa police arrest 100 people in protest against xenophobia
• Uganda says telecoms operators must list on local bourse
• Kenyan shilling inches up due to offshore investor inflows
• South Sudan’s Machar calls for delay to unity govt as peace efforts stall
• Kenyan parliamentary panel backs lifting cap on lending rates
• Egypt selects 5 lenders for dollar-denominated bond – ministry
• Kenyan bank shares surge after house panel embraces rate cap appeal
• Senegal’s SNE oil field project cost jumps 40% to $4.2 bln

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