By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asian shares up as US, China trade negotiators talk
- US, China trade negotiators hold call
- MSCI Asia ex-Japan adds 1.1%
- Earnings, lockdown easing hopes boost shares
Oil Markets
- Oil gains on hopes that easing of coronaviru curbs will trigger demand boost
- Brent up 1.5% at $29.33 a barrel (0121GMT)
- WTI up 1.5% at $24.03
Precious metals
- Gold hovers near 2-wk high ahead of US jobs data
- Spot gold steady at $1,715.23/oz. (0315GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.1% at $1,727/oz.
Grains
- Soybeans hit 1-wk high, but set to post weekly loss
- Soybeans down nearly 0.5% for the week
- Corn up nearly 0.5% for the week
- Wheat up 1% for the week
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- Nigeria releases 2019 consumption expenditure report
- South Africa FX reserves Apr-20 [prev. $52.4B]
- South Africa & Nigeria reduce fuel prices [SA from 6 May, Nigeria marketers’ compliance awaited]
- Nigeria’s Buhari chief of staff pick awaited
- Key African countries on lockdown or restricted; subdued economic activity
- Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
- Tunisia allows Turkish medical aid plane to land for Libyans
- Sudan corruption committee confiscates Bashir family properties
- Sudan coronavirus committee recommends lockdown extension in Khartoum state
- US says Russia is working with Syria’s Assad to move militia to Libya
- Zimbabwe opposition boycotts parliament after members dismissed
- Egypt foreign reserves fall to $37.037 bln end-April – central bank
- Coronavirus could kill up to 190,000 in Africa in first year if not contained – WHO
- US says does not support Haftar’s military action against Libya’s Tripoli
- Foreign holdings of Egypt pound t-bills fell by half in March
- Lesotho’s king assents to bill limiting PM Thabane’s powers
- South Africa rand jumps as Chinese data fuels recovery hopes, Anglo leads
- Africa Oil – Qua offered at premium as market rebounds from record low
- Nigeria’s UAC to spin off loss-making real estate unit by July
- IMF approved $18 bln in 50 requests for emergency pandemic aid – spokesman
- Egypt foreign reserves at $37.037 bln at end-April – central bank
- Africa disease centre rejects Tanzania allegation that its coronavirus tests faulty
- Kenya, Uganda currencies seen firmer, Nigeria’s weaker; in week ahead
- Egypt extends nationwide nighttime curfew until end of Ramadan
- Nigeria 5-year naira futures slide past 550 after cenbank weakens contract – traders
- Africa startup Helium Health closes $10 mln funding round
- Tunisia annual inflation rate rises to 6.3% in April
- Uganda shilling unchanged, banks keep eye on impact from IMF loan
- Virus exposes gaping holes in Africa health systems
- Kenya floods uproot families, complicating coronavirus fight
- South Africa business confidence sinks to 35-yr low in April – SACCI
- Anglo American considers spinning off South Africa coal operations
- Africa disease control body rejects Tanzania assertion that coronavirus tests are faulty
- World food prices fall sharply in April because of coronavirus – UN
- South Africa children face hunger as school closure halts free meals
- South Africa rand dips as risk sentiment dampened by China troubles
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters