By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Stocks drop as Trump’s Latin American tariffs revive trade angst
• MSCI Asia ex-Japan -0.45%, Nikkei down 1.1%
• Australian shares on track for worst day in 2 mths
• US tariffs on Brazil & Argentina ‘effective immediately’

Oil Markets

• Oil rises for a second day as Saudi Arabia pushes supply cut
• Brent up 0.3% at $61.11 a barrel (0218GMT)
• WTI up 0.4% at $56.17

Precious metals

• Gold inches up as Trump’s Latin American tariffs curb risk appetite
• Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,463.42/oz. (0134GMT)
• US gold futures unchanged at $1,469.20/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans rebound from near 3-mth low, ample global supplies cap gains
• Soybean futures up 0.3% at $8.73-1/2 a bushel (0149GMT)
• Corn futures up 0.1% at $3.81-1/4 a bushel
• Wheat futures up 0.5% at $5.38 a bushel

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

• South Africa GDP Q3-2019 [fcst. 1.2% qq saa, prev. 3.1%]
• Nigeria’s legislature expected to pass 2020 budget
• South Africa state capture inquiry resumes
• African Economic Conference by AfDB, ECA & UNDP in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt; 2-4 Dec

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

• Australia’s Woodside Petroleum submits final plan for Senegal oil project
• Canada’s Semafo says Boungou mine operations in Burkina Faso not expected to restart this year
• Tunisia’s police & demonstrators clash in third night of protests
• Govt in Libya’s capital condemns deadly air strikes
• East Libyan forces blamed for deadly air strikes in Tripoli, south
• Accused in Namibian fishing corruption scandal withdraw bail application
• South African Airways lost over $700 mln in past 2 years – documents
• After Libya arms embargo breaches, UN Security Council warns countries to stop
• South African Airways lost over 5 bln rand in 2018/19 – presentation
• Lebanese salesman acquitted in case over $2 bln Mozambique loans
• South African regulator tells Vodacom, MTN to cut data prices
• South Africa’s rand hits 5-wk peak as US manufacturing slip aids EM’s
• Africa Oil – Asking prices for Angolan slip, demand still robust
• France’s Macron pays respects to soldiers killed in Mali, says battle goes on
• Ghana G&S cocoa arrivals reach 208,000 T by Nov. 14 – COCOBOD
• Poor nations pay price as millions flee ‘climate chaos’, Oxfam says
• Ethiopia to keep banking sector only for domestic investors – draft law
• Ivory Coast 2019/20 cocoa port arrivals seen at 694,000 T by Dec. 1 – exporters
• Uganda reaches deal on tax dispute, paves way for Tullow stake sale
• Morocco’s poor left behind by development boom
• Uganda shilling holds steady, seen coming under pressure
• Kenya shilling weakens on surging importer demand
• South Africa’s Absa PMI slips to 47.7 in November
• South Africa’s rand flat ahead of GDP figures

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