By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• World stocks pause at record peak as markets assess US-China deal
• MSC ACWI, S&P 500 at record high after Phase 1 deal inked
• Chinese shares little moved
• Bond yields dip on low inflation data

Oil Markets

• Oil gains after US-China trade deal, rise in inventories
• Brent up 0.7% at $64.45 a barrel (0310GMT)
• WTI up 0.7% at $58.20

Precious metals

• Gold steady as uncertainties linger after US-China trade deal
• Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,556.69/oz. (0140GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.2% at $1,556.40/oz.

Grains

• US soybeans fall to near 1-mth low on doubts about Chinese purchase
• Soybean futures down 0.1% at $9.27-3/4 a bushel (0138GMT)
• Corn futures down 0.2% at $3.86-3/4 a bushel
• Wheat futures down 0.4% at $5.71-1/4 a bushel

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

• South Africa central bank decides interest rates [fcst. 6.5%, prev. 6.5%]
• Team South Africa pre-World Economic Forum breakfast meeting in Johannesburg
• South Africa mining production Nov-19 [fcst. 0.2% yy, prev. -2.9%]
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues

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

• Erdogan, Trump discuss Libya developments in phone call
• Firm linked to Nigerian oil firm Lekoil welcomes loan scam probe
• Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan to finalize Blue Nile dam agreement this month
• South African Airways flights at risk without $139 mln from govt – union
• Turkey summons Egypt diplomat after raid on Anadolu agency in Cairo
• Amid fears US will pull troops from Africa, French minister heads to Washington
• South Africa’s Telkom could cut 3,000 jobs – letter to unions
• Macron says wants “useful” meeting on Libya, unsure on attendance
• Mali’s gold production rises 7% in 2019 to record high
• Too early to say Libya ceasefire has collapsed – Turkish defence minister
• Africa Oil – Sonangol sells out, Nigerian glut mounts
• Egypt forms a new team to investigate the death of Italian student
• Egypt could resell Israeli gas to Europe within months – Israeli minister
• Makgoba appointed interim chair at South Africa’s Eskom
• Egypt issues new mining law regulations – cabinet
• South Africa’s rand firms on better-than-expected retail sales data
• Italian appeals court acquits Saipem, Eni in Algerian graft case
• Morocco begins talks to curb trade deficit with Turkey
• South Africa’s Eskom takes energy regulator to court over tariffs
• Ethiopian Airlines to start building new $5 bln airport this year – CEO
• Sudan reopens airspace after revolt quelled
• Ethio Telecom posts 32% rise in H1 revenue
• Egypt orders retrial of monks sentenced to death for bishop’s murder
• Ethiopia sets tentative August date for elections
• Germany sets out broad aims for Berlin Libya conference
• Scientists hope to revive near-extinct northern white rhino in Kenya
• EasyJet to restart UK flights to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh resort
• Uganda shilling weakens on importer demand
• Kenya to ditch wide fiscal deficits – finmin
• South Africa’s retail sales up 2.6% y/y in November
• Mozambique leader Nyusi sworn in despite opposition boycott
• Trafficking risk high for hundred of migrants sent back to Libya
• Congo opens Chinese-owned Deziwa copper and cobalt mine
• South African nuclear firm Necsa’s board members resign
• Ghana sells 280,000 T of 2020/21 cocoa export contracts with LID by Jan. 7
• Ivory Coast sells around 720,000 T of 2020/21 cocoa export contracts with LID by Jan.3 – CCC
• Ivory Coast 2019/20 Q1 cocoa grind up 4.4% by end Dec.
• Kenya shilling trading in tight range against the dollar
• Kenya’s Treasury cuts 2019 growth estimate to 5.6%

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