By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia stocks stymied by trade talk frustration
• Nikkei idles near 13-mth high, most markets flat
• Reuters reports phase 1 trade deal delayed to Dec
• Bonds bounce, dollar cedes some gains to yen

Oil Markets

• Oil unchanged after overnight losses amid caution over trade talks
• Brent flat at $61.74 a barrel (0158GMT)
• WTI down 3 cents at $56.32

Precious metals

• Gold little changed as investors seek clarity on trade negotiations
• Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,490.89/oz. (0107GMT)
• US gold futues down 0.1% at $1,491.70/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans hover near 1-wk low as trade deal delay weighs
• Soybean futures trading at $9.27-3/4 per bushel (0017GMT)
• Corn futures up 0.1% at $3.79 a bushel
• Wheat futures little changed at $5.17-1/4 a bushel

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

• Mauritius general election
• Kenya’s Kibra constituency by-election
• South Africa manufacturing production Sep-19 [fcst. 0.1% yy, prev. -1.8%]
• South Africa SACCI business confidence Oct-19 [fcst. 92.5, prev. 92.4]
• South Africa FX reserves Oct-19 [prev. $54.9B]
• Nigeria diaspora investment summit; 6-7 Nov
• UNDP high-level dialogue in Accra
• Africa oil week; 4-8 Nov
• Week-long celebrations in South Africa; after Rugby World Cup win
• 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, Ethiopia, Sudan to try to resolve dam dispute by Jan. 15 – Treasury
• At least 37 killed in attack on Canadian miner Semafo convoy in Burkina Faso
• Water crisis builds in Egypt as dam talks falter, temperatures rise
• Trump says talks with Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan on dam dispute went well
• ‘Wave of hope’ to end FGM in Ethiopia as activist pioneer dies
• Ride-hailing market revs up in Egypt
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa cheers $24 bln more for investment drive
• Algeria aims to cut imports, balance of payment deficit in 2020
• Hacked Moroccan lawyer urges action against cyber spies
• Ghana to change laws on licences to spur oil production
• Militia in Congo kills 10 civilians in village raid
• Heavy rains, flooding displace hundred of thousands in East Africa
• Africa Oil – Cargoes clear, IOC tender result awaited
• Rugby – ‘Beast’ Mtawarira retires after beauty of a World Cup win for South Africa
• South African rand inches lower while stocks reach 2 mth highs
• Kenyan lenders target small and medium businesses with digital loans
• Total seeks to sell stake in major Nigerian offshore block
• Angola bid round for 10 fields in Namibe, Benguela basins closes next week
• Egypt to auction 1-yr euro t-bills on Nov. 11 – central bank
• Equatorial Guinea to award 7-8 blocks in Nov, press for more drilling
• Uganda aims for Q1 investment decision on oil pipeline – minister
• Nearly half of Kenyans surveyed by police watchdog report abuses by officers
• Zimbabwe police stop public workers from marching for better pay
• Ivory Coast petroleum ministry announces tenders for 5 offshore blocks
• Ghana to revoke 4 petroleum licences for lack of development – deputy minister
• Uganda revamps century-old rail network after China delays funding
• DR Congo hydrocarbons minister says change of power in country encouraging investment
• Uganda energy minister invites bidding on 5 oil blocks
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa bets $13.5 bln of investment pledges at summit
• Ghana deputy energy minister says laws must change for more offshore exploration
• Mozambique to appeal South African ruling to set aside extradition of ex-finmin
• Tullow CEO says too early for new investment date on Uganda oil project
• Some Nigerians blame govt, not religious leaders, for shocking school abuses
• Kenyan shilling stronger after parliament removes lending rate cap
• Mozambique sees new oil and gas bidding round in 2020
• Kenyan bank shares up after parliament passes rate cap appeal
• Australia’s South32 exits South Africa thermal coal business

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