By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian stocks see brighter world as trade, UK clouds lift
• Pound surges as exit polls show Tories with majority
• [Labour’s Corbyn to quit before next election, after poor polls]
• Nikkei highest since Oct 2018 on reports of Sino-US trade deal
• Markets scale back risk of rate cuts around the world
• Safe-haven bonds, yen fall away

Oil Markets

• Oil prices hit highest in 3 mths as US-China trade deal takes shape
• Brent up 0.8% at $64.68 a barrel (0221GMT)
• WTI up 0.6% at $59.54

Precious metals

• Gold prices slip as trade euphoria lifts risk appetite
• Spot gold down 0.2% at $1,466.35/oz. (0051GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.2% at $1,469.60/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans jump 1% , set for biggest weekly gain in over 2 months
• Soybean futures up more than 2% for the week; hit high of $9.14-1/2
• Corn futures up over 1% for the week; hit high of $3.84 a bushel
• Wheat futures up more than 1% for the week

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

• Ghana’s Akufo-Addo press conference
• Preliminary results of Algeria’s presidential poll expected
• South Africa’s EFF 2^nd national people’s assembly; 13-16 Dec

Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today

• Algerians protest through day of disputed election
• Libyan commander urges forces to advance towards central Tripoli
• Namibia rushes to drill boreholes as worst drought in a century bites
• Voting ends in disputed Algerian election
• Head of Libya parliament says Turkey-Libyan deal invalid
• West African court voids Sierra Leone’s ban on pregnant schoolgirls
• Wintershall to carry out Sirte exploration in Libya at own cost – NOC
• US threatens visa restrictions over South Sudan peace process
• Africa Oil – Freight rise set to bite in February but diffs still high
• South African rand climbs to 6-week best as flat Fed overshadows local data
• IMF deal lifts Ethiopia bonds as currency slides to record low
• Turnout in Algeria election 20% at 3pm – official
• South Africa’s MTN to defend views on data prices if referred to competition tribunal – CEO
• Most African currencies seen firm; in week ahead
• Women want in as internet revolution creeps into Chad
• IMF preliminary deal lifts Ethiopia dollar bonds to near 2-yr high
• Flights resume at Libya’s Mitiga airport in Tripoli
• Famine stalks millions in South Sudan after droughts, floods – UN
• Zambia’s power supply deficit worsens as water levels sink
• Egypt’s strongman extends crackdown to a new foe: soap operas
• Ivory Coast farmers push back against cocoa output cap
• Rwanda GDP growth rises to 11.9% y/y in Q3 2019
• Hundreds protest in central Algiers against disputed election
• Turkey sends Libya maritime accord to UN for approval – source
• Vitol signs 10-yr deal to buy Nigeria’s LNG from 2021
• Ugandan shilling firmer on central bank liquidity mop-up
• South African power cuts set to continue as some Eskom units still down
• Uganda’s Umeme power company gets $70 mln loan for national grid expansion

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