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

Global Markets

• Stocks fall after Apple warns on coronavirus impact
• Apples says will not meet revenue target for Jan-March
• S&P 500 futures down 0.3%, mainland China shares lose 0.2%
• Australian dollar falls; gold, US bonds gain

Oil Markets

• Oil prices slip as coronavirus concerns linger
• Brent down 0.6% at $57.30 a barrel (0126GMT)
• WTI down 0.3% at $51.90

Precious metals

• Gold rises on mounting business impact from virus outbreak
• Spot gold up 0.4% at $1,586.32/oz. (0246GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.2% at $1,589.30/oz.

Grains

• Wheat climbs more than 1.5% to hit 18-day high
• Wheat futures up 1.5% at $5.50-1/2 a bushel (0115GMT)
• Soybean futures down 0.4% at $8.90-1/4 a bushel
• Corn futures up 0.2% at $3.78-1/2 a bushel

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

• South Africa’s parliament to debate Ramaphosa State of the Nation Address; 18-19 Feb
• US Secretary of State Pompeo tours Africa (Senegal, Angola & Ethiopia); 16-19 Feb
• Nigeria inflation Jan-20 [fcst. 12.1% yy, prev. 12.0%]
• Bank of Zambia MPC meeting; 17-18 Feb [fcst. 11.5% , prev. 11.5%]
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues

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

• Nigeria’s state oil company & partners spent $360 mln on Delta cleanup – NNPC
• Libya’s NOC oil production at 135,745 bpd as of Monday
• Libya’s rival factions dig in for long conflict
• At least 23 killed in Niger aid stampede – officials
• ICC trial in The Hague one option for Sudan’s Bashir – minister
• Tunisia president to call early poll if govt loses vote of confidence
• Africa Oil – Teapots return to buy cheap barrels; programmes awaited
• EU agrees new Libya sea patrols after Austria lifts veto
• South African rand falls as Moody’s cuts growth forecast, stocks firm
• Armed men in military fatigues kill 22 in Cameroon village
• As South Sudan deadline to form unit govt looms, soldiers and rebels hastily gather
• Pompeo blasts corruption, promotes US business in Africa trip
• Ethiopia approves supplementary budget of 27.89 billion birr
• Popular Rwandan singer found dead in police cell – officials
• Moody’s cuts South Africa’s 2020 GDP growth forecast to 0.7%
• Gunmen kill 24 in attack on Burkina Faso church
• Italy’s foreign minister Di Maio says EU agreed mission to block arms supply in Libya
• Egypt pursues criminal investigation into Egyptian academic studying in Italy
• Equatorial Guinea argues luxury Paris mansion was part of embassy when raided
• Ivory Coast to issue domestic bonds worth $184 mln
• Ivory Coast 2019/20 cocoa arrivals reached 1.474 mln T by Feb. 16 – exporters
• Zimbabwe central bank leaves rates unchanged, bullish on inflation
• Burning tyres and sore feet: Lagos bristles under bike ban
• South Africa lifts foot-and-mouth auction ban – farm minister
• South African rand firmer as China rate cut soothes virus anxiety
• Kenyan farmers find sweet spot with nutritious, drought-hardy crop

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