By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares mixed as doubts grow on elusive US-China trade deal
• Markets on edge, await signs of breakthrough on trade
• Chinese stocks rise; Japan, South Korea fall
• Currencies also becalmed, awaiting concrete news

Oil Markets

• Oil slips as lack of US-China trade talk progress frays investor nerves
• Brent down 0.2% at $62.32 a barrel (0148GMT)
• WTI down 0.2% at $56.95 a barrel

Precious metals

• Gold rises as Sino-US trade deal doubts resurface
• Spot gold up 0.2% at $1,473.04/oz. (0105GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.2% at $1,474.10/oz.

Grains

• Corn rebounds from 2-mth low as US harvest pace lags
• Corn futures up 0.2% at $3.68-1/2 a bushel (0145GMT)
• Soybean futures up 0.1% at $9.11-1/2 a bushel
• Wheat futures down 0.1% at $5.06-3/4 a bushel

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

• G20 compact with Africa investment summit & conference in Berlin
• Nigeria finance bill 2019 public hearing
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• Global Business Forum Africa 2019 summit in Dubai; 18-19 Nov

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

• US blacklists former Kenyan attorney general over corruption allegations
• Mali army says 24 soldiers, 17 militants killed in attack on northern patrol
• Air strike hits biscuit factory in Libyan capital, killing 10
• EU wheat firm as Algeria tender adds to export demand
• South Africa appoints Nampak’s de Ruyter as CEO of indebted Eskom
• Africa Oil – Angolan December cargoes almost sold out, new programme emerges
• Zimbabwe central bank halves main rate despite soaring inflation
• Jumia suspends its e-commerce business in Cameroon
• Niger’s main opposition leader returns to jail with eye on presidental bid – lawyer
• Zimbabwe central bank cuts main lending rate to 35% from 70% – statement
• Egypt risks US sanctions over Russian fighter jet deal – US official
• South Africa’s rand weakens, monetary policy in focus
• Ivory Coast 2019/20 cocoa grind up 4.4% by end Oct.
• South Africa’s Naspers forecasts lower first-half profit
• Botswana cuts 2019 economic growth forecast
• UK lawmaker blames HSBC, Stanchart, Baroda in South Africa corruption
• Egypt sells $1.56 bln 1-yr dollar t-bills
• South Africa’s SAA to resume some regional flights, cancel domestic
• Nigeria oil firm Seplat says CEO to retire in July
• South Africa Astral Foods’ profits hit by high feed costs, drought
• Test for Ethiopia’s reforms as Sidama people vote on autonomy
• Food prices push Nigeria inflation to 17-mth high after border closures
• Egypt grants 51 brokerage firms short-selling bourse licence
• Uganda shilling holds steady against the dollar
• Kenyan shilling firms against the dollar
• Nigeria annual inflation at 11.61 pct in October – stats office
• South Africa’s Netcare posts higher HEPS, forecasts hit to first-half
• South Africa’s Pioneer Food reports 6% fall in annual profit
• South Africa MTN, Cell C expand roaming agreement

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