By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Stocks tick up on upbeat China factory reports, trade talk hopes
• Investors cling to hopes of eventual compromise
• China private manufacturing PMI surprisingly strong
• Yen softens on stimulus, pound slips on opinion polls

Oil Markets

• Oil jumps on Chinese factory growth, hopes for deeper OPEC cuts
• Brent up 1.2% at $61.23 a barrel (0157GMT)
• WTI up 1.6% at $56.03

Precious metals

• Gold dips on upbeat dollar, positive China data
• Spot gold down 0.3% at $1,461.15/oz. (0059GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.4% at $1,467.30/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans rise for first time in 8 sessions
• Soybean futures up 0.5% at $8.81 a bushel (0221GMT)
• Corn futures up 0.2% at $3.82 a bushel
• Wheat futures little changed at $5.41-1/2 per bushel

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

• African Economic Conference by AfDB, ECA & UNDP in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt; 2-4 Dec
• South Africa ABSA manufacturing PMI Nov-19 [prev. 48.1]
• South Africa SACCI business confidence Nov-19 [prev. 91.7]

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

• At least 24 killed in Tunisia bus crash
• Cameroon seperatists fire on passenger jet in northwest
• South African Airways in talks over funding for shake-up
• Nigeria commits OPEC agreements before Vienna meeting
• Comoros seeks $4.6 blnin investment to climb out of poverty
• Incumbent Geingob wins Namibia presidential election with 56.3% of the vote
• Tunisians protest in southern town after man sets himself alight
• Ivorian president says he will stand in 2020 election if former leaders run again
• Gabon president’s spokesman detained in anti-corruption crackdown
• AfDB approves $210 mln loan for Nigeria’s power transmission project
• Nigerian central bank injects $323 mln, 18 mln yuan into currency market
• Nigeria’s Buhari seeks parliamentary nod on $23 bln in foreign loans
• South African Airways shunned by insurers as financial doubts grow
• Africa Oil – Sonangol nearly sells out spot cargoes, Nigerian sales East rise
• South African rand firms but remains range-bound, stocks fall
• Africa-focused lender Bayport explores $800 mln London listing – sources
• Algerian protesters keep up pressure on authorities as vote nears
• Fatal attacks on Congo clinics risks resurgence of ebola epidemic
• Sudan’s ex-ruling party condemns law dissolving it, to continue “reforms”
• Sudan’s former ruling party rejects law dissolving it
• South Africa’s Hollard excludes SAA from insolvency coverage
• South Africa’s Telkom says Cell C has rejected takeover offer
• PwC probe finds certain executives at South Africa’s Tongaat overstated profits, assets
• Fired Zimbabwe state doctors reject offer to return to work
• Nigeria gives UK court $200 mln guarantee for stay on asset seizures in P&ID case
• Kenyan shilling under pressure from end month importer demand
• Government should nationalise Kenya Airways quickly – CEO
• South Africa court rejects Zuma appeal to prevent corruption trial
• Kenya’s annual inflation rises to 5.56% in November
• Kenya Power, KenGen delay annual results on auditor-general appointment
• South Africa’s Karoo drills and prays as taps run dry
• Flight Centre, travel insurer drop South African Airways
• Kenya’s Safaricom starts digital post services in e-commerce push
• Kenya’s parliament approves an extra 78 bln shillings in spending
• French army helicopters crashed in Mali were not under IS fire – general
• Kenya Power annual results delayed on auditor-general appointment
• South Africa’s Telkom says Cell C has rejected takeover offer
• South Africa’s credit demand growth quickens to 7.28% y/y in Oct
• Sudan moves to dissolve ex ruling party, repeals public order law

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