By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asian shares rise on China’s policy easing, trade deal hopes
• MSCI Asia ex-Japan +0.35%
• China blue-chips jump after PBOC announces RRR cut
• Trump says Phase 1 trade deal to be signed Jan. 15.

Oil Markets

• Oil climbs on US-China trade optimism, Middle East tensions
• Brent to hold near $63 in 2020, WTI around $57 – poll
• US crude stocks fell by 7.8 mln bbls last week – API
• Brent up 0.3% at $66.21 a barrel (0130GMT)
• WTI up 0.3% at $61.27

Precious metals

• Gold prices edge higher on soft dollar
• Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,518.60/oz. (0043GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.1% at $1,521.60/oz.

Grains (31 Dec)

• US grain futures notch yearly rises on China demand hopes
• Soybean futures ended up 3 cents at $9.55-1/2 a bushel; up 6.8% for 2019
• Wheat futures up 2-3/4 cents at $5.58-3/4 a bushel; up 11% for 2019
• Corn slipped ½ cent to $3.87-3/4 a bushel; up 3.4% for 2019

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

• South Africa ABSA manufacturing PMI Dec-19 [prev. 47.7]

Key African events or data releases yesterday (31 Dec – 1 Jan) & early a.m today

• Ex-Guinea Bissau PM Embalo wins presidency; opponent disputes vote
• Tunisia’s designated PM says he has formed a govt
• More than 20 dead, many displaced after violence in Sudan’s West Darfur
• Turkey may not send forces to Libya if conflict eases
• Loser in Guinea Bissau election cries foul, will contest result in court
• New Year brings hope, grief to Somali family devastated by bomb blast
• Angola hits ‘Princess’ dos Santos with asset freeze
• Arab League warns against deployment of foreign fighters in Libya
• Egypt’s Stock Exchange targets IPOs of 3-4 private companies in 2020
• Egypt’s M2 money supply up 13.16% y/y in November – c.bank
• South Africa’s rand weathers risks to end 2019 higher, stocks down
• Kenya’s economy expanded 5.1% y/y in Q3 2019
• Ivory Coast street militia leader sentenced to 20 years for role in civil war
• Kenya shilling trades steady on remittance flows
• Kenyan inflation rises to 5.82% y/y in December, stats office says
• Africa Oil – Angolan differentials steady
• Seychelles’ y/y GDP growth slows to 3.8% in Q3 2019 – stats office
• Kenya’s y/y GDP growth slows to 3.8% in Q3 2019 – stats office
• South Africa’s credit growth slows to 6.6% y/y in Nov

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