By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji

Global Markets

• Asia relieved at latest trade truce, China data disappoints
• Nikkei futures rise, trade thin with Tokyo on holiday
• Shares up on relief at Sino-US trade progress
• But caution as China export, import data disappoint
• Sterling rally pauses as EU summit looms over Brexit

Oil Markets

• Oil prices edge up, supported by Iran ship attack, US-China trade détente
• Prices rise 2% on Friday after Iran tanker attack
• Traders eye US-China pact, details of phase 1 agreement
• Brent up 9 cents at $60.60 a barrel (0008GMT)
• WTI up 9 cents at $54.79

Precious metals

• Gold slips as renewed trade optimism lifts risk appetite
• Spot gold down 0.3% at $1,485.56/oz. (0036GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.1% at $1,489.90/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans climb to 16-mth high on US-China trade optimism
• Wheat futures up 0.6% at $5.11 per bushel (0058GMT)
• Corn futures up 0.7% at $4.00-1/2 per bushel
• Soy futures up 0.9% at $9.44-3/4 per bushel
• Rice futures down 0.2% at $12.04 per hundredweight

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

• South Africa’s Ramaphosa to deliver keynote opening speech at FT Africa summit in London
• Nigeria inflation Sep-19 [fcst. 11.1% yy, prev. 11.0%]
• South Africa’s Zuma graft trial tomorrow; 15 Oct

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

• Supporters of Tunisia’s Saied celebrate his projected presidential win
• Algeria plans wealth, property tax for first time
• Second exit poll gives Kais Saied landslide win in Tunisian election
• Hundreds of Algerians protest against proposed energy law
• Voting ends in Tunisian presidential election runoff
• Mortar bombs strike Somalia’s Mogadishu airport, 6 injured – source
• Soccer – Neymar injured as Brazil draw 1-1 with Nigeria in friendly
• Leaders of Egypt and Ethiopia to meet on Nile dam standoff – Sisi
• Congo to start using J&J ebola vaccine in November
• Egypt cuts stocks exchange fees in bid to boost investments
• Foreign election monitors concerned by detention of Tunisian candidate
• At least 10 Kenyan police killed by bomb near Somali border – police
• A son and father reunited, like many under Nobel winner Abiy’s Ethiopia-Eritrea peace deal
• Gunmen kill about 15 people in attack on Burkina Faso mosque
• Zimbabwe court rules doctors strike illegal, should return to work
• Guinea’s Nimba iron ore project gets green light to export via Liberia
• Cargo plane crashes in Congo with presidential staff on board
• Burkinabes flee their homes en masse as violence spirals – UN
• Morocco’s BCP bank buys Congo’s BCI bank
• South Africa’s rand races to 3-wk high on easing trade war, Brexit tensions
• Moroccan king urges more loans for graduates and entrepreneurs
• Africa Oil – Nigerian crude diffs crash as freight rates bite
• Gabon’s GDP growth to rise to 3.4% this year – IMF
• Go home, Tanzanian president tells Burundian refugees
• Nigerian president calls for stricter laws on sex abuse
• Mozambique’s elections to test fragile peace
• Nigeria looks to sign military cooperation deal with Russia this month
• US imposes sanctions on 2 South Sudanese businessmen for fraud, bribery
• Algeria’s protesters march against ruling elite as elections approach
• Ethiopia’s Abiy wins Nobel Peace Prize for resolving conflict with Eritrea
• Lawyer for imprisoned Tanzanian journalist seeks plea bargain
• Ivory Coast cocoa grind up 8.3% to end-September – exporter stats
• Uber launches boat service in Nigeria’s megacity Lagos
• Uganda shilling weakens as rate cut spurs banks to beef up positions
• South Africa’s Zuma to face corruption trial
• Ethiopian PM ‘humbled, thrilled’ with Nobel Peace Prize
• Starkly different candidates vie for Tunisia’s presidency
• Eni plans to quadruple gasoline output at Angolan refinery by 2021
• Ethiopia Nobel Peace Prize winner ruffles feathers at home
• Ethiopia “proud as a nation” over Nobel Peace Prize – PM Abiy’s office
• Vast Resources to sign diamonds joint venture deal in Zimbabwe
• Nigeria’s state oil company signs $2.5 bln pre-payment deal for gas projects
• South African arms company Denel winds up Aerostructures
• South Africa’s Zuma to face corruption trial after court denies stay of prosecution
• South Africa’s Eskom challenges latest power tariff decision in court
• Hopes around US-China trade talks bolster South African rand
• Kenya farmers snap crops with phones to improve insurance payouts
• Conflicting signals over Royal Air Maroc 737 MAX plans

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