By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica

Global Markets

• Asian markets stem losses as China returns to work but sentiment jittery
• Asian shares fall after Friday’s losses on Wall Street
• Chinese authorities make plans for businesses, schools to reopen
• Singapore raises alert level on China travel

Oil Markets

• Oil prices fall on oversupply worries as virus hits China demand
• Brent down 38 cents at $54.09 a barrel (0100GMT)
• WTI down 38 cents at $49.49

Precious metals

• Gold prices tick up as virus fears stoke safe-haven demand
• Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,572.01/oz. (0100GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.3% at $1,577.50/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans gain for fourth straight session as China demand worries ease
• Soybean futures up 0.3% at $8.84-3/4 a bushel (0208GMT)
• Corn futures up 0.4% at $3.82 a bushel
• Wheat futures down 0.4% at $5.56-1/2 a bushel

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

• African leaders in Addis Ababa for AU summit; 9-10 Feb
• South Africa state capture inquiry resumes
• 3^rd Nigeria international petroleum summit in Abuja; 9-12 Feb

Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today

• Trudeau raises issue of detained Canadians with Egypt’s Sisi
• Suicide bomber attacks Algerian barracks, killing a soldier – defence ministry
• Libya’s Azzawiya stops refining operations due to lack of crude
• Route cuts intended to make South African Airways sustainable – rescue team
• OPEC+ panel calls for more oil cuts on coronavirus impact – Algeria
• UN to host new Libya ceasefire talks after no deal in first round
• Somalia president signs new petroleum bill into law
• Libya’s oil production dropped to 181,576 barrels per day
• French soldiers kill more than 30 militants in Mali – army
• Malawi President Mutharika appeaks ruling overturning his election victory
• Botswana auctions permits to hunt elephants to ease human-wildlife conflict
• South Africa govt calls for review of SAA route cuts
• Africa Oil – IOC mops up as spot trade stutters
• Smuggling pushes Ivory Coast cashew output down 17% in 2019
• South Africa govt wants SAA route cuts reviewed – ministry
• South African rand falls to 3-mth low, stocks down
• Ramaphosa opposes plan to cut South African Airways’ domestic routes
• Airlink interested in buying some South African Airways assets
• Fighters step up attacks in Mozambique gas region, beheadings reported – UN
• Rwanda secures $214 mln China loan for hydropower plant
• Canadian miner Banro looking to sell Congo gold mine at discount – CEO
• Congo’s move to control artisanal cobalt is double-edged: Andy Home
• South African miners keen to start generating their own power
• Tunisia’s current account deficit narrows on tourism boost – cenbank governor
• Botswana auctions permits to hunt elephants to ease human-wildlife conflict
• Kenyan sculptor turns scrap metal into art with a message
• South Africa’s net foreign reserves rise to $45.1 bln in January

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