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
- 3rd 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