By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares gain as Trump fuels trade deal optimism, oil firm on OPEC+ output cut
• Trump still upbeat on deal with Beijing despite gap over tariffs
• Oil prices hold at recent highs as OPEC+ deepens cuts
• Investors eye US jobs data, Fed’s policy decisions

Oil Markets

• Oil rises, US crude trading 2-mth high after OPEC cut
• Brent up 1 cent at $63.40 a barrel (0101GMT)
• WTI up 2 cents at $58.45

Precious metals

• Gold flat as risk sentiment rises on trade optimism; set for weekly rise
• Spot gold flat at $1,475.51/oz. (0120GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.2% at $1,480.80/oz.

Grains

• Soybean futures extend gains, linger near 9-day top
• Soybean futures up more than 0.5% for the week
• Corn futures down about 0.5% for the week
• Wheat futures down 3% for the week

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

• 2019 corruption in Nigeria report release by NBS & UNODC
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa on working visit to Togo (6 Dec)
• 7^th OPEC & non-OPEC ministerial meeting in Vienna
• South Africa FX reserves Nov-19 [prev. $54.53B]
• South Africa state capture inquiry resumes

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

• When did you last see an African video game hero? Asks Kenya’s Usiku Games
• South Africa makes last-ditch move to save state airline
• Ethiopia PM shoulld talk to media when collecting Peace Prize – Nobel committee
• Full of promise? Refugees in Ethiopia impatient for right to work
• Africa Oil – Nigeria kidnappings raise ship insurance jitters, offers ease
• Sime Darby to sell Liberia plantation to local manufacturer – minister
• Pirates kidnap 19 crew members from Greek tanker off Nigeria
• Nigeria’s parliament passes record 10.59 trillion naira budget for 2020
• Uber takes to streets of Ivory Coast in African expansion
• South African rand stumbles on economic data
• South Africa hit by power cuts as Eskom units break down
• Half a million ebola vaccine doses to be stockpiled for emergency use
• Kenya’s Safaricom tests new mobile savings service
• Landslides in northwest Burundi kill at least 26 people
• South African Airways to name business rescue practitioner soon
• At least 58 dead after migrant boat sinks off Mauritanian coast
• South Africa moves step closer to land expropriation without payments
• Angola petroleum minister says he supports maintaining OPEC+ oil cuts
• With memories of Rwanda: The Gambian minister taking on Suu Kyi
• Measles toll in Congo exceeds 5,000, WHO says
• Libya’s El Feel oilfield shut due to valve closure – NOC
• Commercial International Bank Egypt seeks to buy small Kenyan bank
• Almost half of land sold for first phase of Egypt’s new capital
• Nigerian court orders security agency to release activist within 24 hours
• Zimbabwe court appoints Mugabe daughter to identify his assets
• Egypt to sell $1 bln in 1-yr dollar denominated t-bills on Dec. 9 – c.bank
• South Africa business confidence improves in November
• Sluggish demand for dollars supports Ugandan shilling
• South Africa Q3 current account deficit narrows to 3.7% of GDP
• Botswana’s Minergy puts UK listing plans on hold
• OPEC and allies prepare to deepen oil output cuts
• Kenya shilling firmer on scarce liquidity, remittances
• Drought and economic woes empty Zimbabwe’s ‘cattle bank’
• Uganda to borrow 600 mln euros to cover 2019/20 budget deficit
• South African Airways in line for 4 bln rand boost to continue operating – minister

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