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

Global Markets

• Stocks plunge, dollar slides as Fed’s emergency cut spooks investors
• Fed cuts rates to 0-0.25%
• Dollar drops 2% vs yen
• Australian market down 7%, Nikkei futures sliding

Oil Markets

• Oil slides again, squeezed between coronavirus demand hit and price war bite
• Brent down $1.13 at $32.72 a barrel (0230GMT)
• WTI down 72 cents at $31.01

Precious metals

• Gold rises after Fed rate cut, but pares gains on cash hunt
• Spot gold up 0.9% at $1,543.60/oz. (0248GMT)
• US gold futures up 1.8% at $1,544.20/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans fall near 10-mth low on coronavirus spread
• Soybean futures down 1% at $8.41-1/4 a bushel (0019GMT)
• Corn futures down 0.8% at $3.62-3/4 a bushel
• Wheat futures down 0.4% at $5.03-3/4 a bushel

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

• South Africa inter-ministerial briefing on new COVID-19 measures
• Special meeting of top officials of South Africa’s ruling ANC
• Ghana opposition NDC’s Mahama press briefing
• Nigeria inflation Feb-20 [fcst. 12.2% yy, prev. 12.1%]

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

• African nations close borders, cancel flights to contain coronavirus spread
• Sudan suspends higher education institutions over coronavirus
• Morocco to create $1 bln fund to counter coronavirus outbreak
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa declares state of disaster over COVID-19
• Lagos gas blast kills 15, destroys several buildings – Nigerian officials
• Algeria to suspend all flights to and from France from Tuesday
• Sudan inflation hit 71.36% in February on food, drink price rises
• Egypt’s central bank ready to intervene if necessary
• Equatorial Guinea reports first coronavirus case, health ministry says
• Tunisia ask citizens for donations to help tackle coronavirus
• France asks airlines to help citizens stuck in Morocco
• Four more African nations confirm coronavirus, new controls put in place
• Morocco suspends all international passenger flights – foreign ministry
• Tunisia beach resorts face up to coronavirus blight
• Egypt trading suspended as shares plunge due to coronavirus
• Congo Republic reports first coronavirus case – govt statement
• Libya’s Tripoli govt declares emergency, shuts down ports, airports
• Sudan closes schools and universities for one month over coronavirus
• Egypt shuts schools, universities for 2 weeks as virus cases increase
• Central African Republic confirms first coronavirus case – WHO
• Seychelles confirms two coronavirus cases – health commissioner
• Senegal orders all schools closed in response to coronavirus
• Two western hostages freed after 15-mth captivity in Africa’s Sahel
• South Africa’s coronavirus cases rise to 38, health ministry says
• Congo health authorities stumble with first coronavirus case confusion
• Namibia reports first two cases of coronavirus, imposes travel ban
• Rwanda confirms first case of coronavirus – health ministry
• Kenya, Ethiopia join expanding list of African states with coronavirus
• Mauritania confirms first coronavirus case
• eSwatini in Southern Africa reports first coronavirus case
• Egypt reports 13 new cases of coronavirus, bringing total to 93
• Embattled Malawi president dissolves cabinet
• Morocco to close all schools starting March 16 over coronavirus fears – education ministry
• Tunisia suspends prayers in mosque, bans gatherings due to coronavirus
• Libya closes schools over coronavirus
• Soccer – African Nations Cup qualifiers postponed over coronavirus
• Africa Oil – Nigerian under pressure due to weak demand
• Libya’s NOC to cut all non-essential expenses – statement
• Egypt says nearly 20 killed in freak bad weather
• Algerians defy coronavirus threat to keep up protests
• South Africa’s rand recovers as stimulus spurs risk buying
• Morocco suspends all passenger sea and air trips to France – state news agency
• Mauritius central bank pumps in liquidity to support businesses
• Sudan reports first coronavirus case
• Russia sees no grounds to resume talks with OPEC+ – Ifax cites energy minister
• Tunisia to require self-isolation for all visitors from abroad – state media
• South Africa’s ex-president Zuma’s bid to stop corruption trial is rejected
• Uganda shilling trades flat as demand recedes
• Kenya shilling drops slightly after first case of coronavirus
• Zambia power firm Zesco says electricity deficit growing
• Uganda accuses ex-general of seeking Rwanda suppor to remove Museveni
• Ghana, Gabon confirm first cases of coronavirus
• Ivory Coast leader backs PM Gon Coulibaly in presidential race
• Facebook, Twitter remove Russia-linked accounts in Ghana targeting US

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