By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Stocks adrift as vaccine rally falters
- Equity rally runs out of puff; MSCI AxJ -0.07%
- AUD backs off multi-week high, gold and bonds up
Oil Markets
- Oil prices ease on dim economic outlook despite signs of firmer demand
- Brent down 0.3% at $34.54 a barrel (0031GMT)
- WTI down 0.4% at $31.83
Precious metals
- Gold gains as bleak economic outlook stokes safe-haven demand
- Spot gold up 0.2% at $1,747.19/oz. (0256GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.4% at $1,753.30/oz.
Grains
- Wheat eases on improved weather, corn falls after 3 days of gains
- Wheat futures down 0.2% at $4.98 a bushel (0026GMT)
- Soybeans up 0.1% at $8.43-1/4 a bushel
- Corn down 0.4% at $3.20 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- Burundi holds presidential election
- Zambia decides interest rates [fcst. 11.5%, prev. 11.5%]
- Lesotho swears in new prime minister
- South Africa retail sales Feb-20 [fcst. 0.7% yy, prev. 1.2%]
- South Africa’s central bank MPC meets; 19-21 May [fcst. 4.25%, prev. 4.25%]
- Nigeria inflation Apr-20 [fcst. 12.5% yy, prev. 12.3%]
- 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
- Burundi heads to poll amidst health and violenc concerns
- Eastern Libya forces say to move back from Tripoli fronts
- Nigeria woos local firms to boost manufacturing as coronavirus disrupt imports
- Egypt registers 720 new coronavirus cases in one day
- South Africa to start phased school re-opening on June 1
- Egypt says proposed standby funding from IMF aimed at helping businesses
- South Africa defence firm Denel can’t pay May salaries
- Ceasefire, diplomacy needed to end Libya crisis – UAE official
- Africa Oil – Nigeria offers firm
- UN envoy pushes for end to foreign fueling of Libya conflict
- Wealthy countries failing Africa during pandemic, presidents say
- South Africa rand firms on covid-19 vaccine hopes
- Paris Club debt relief to pick up after G20 deal clarified – France
- Southern Africa bloc backs Mozambique in fight against insurgents
- South Africa publishes covid-19 mine safety rules
- Rwanda genocide suspect Kabuga brought before French court
- Lebanon says it will honour Algeria Sonatrach contract amid probe
- Lafarge Africa halts capex and warns of second-quarter sales drop
- South Africa Denel says can’t pay staff salaries in May
- Egypt to provide $6 bln in loan guarantees to aid businesses
- DR Congo police crackdown on sect killed 55 in “bloodbath” – Human Rights Watch
- Namibia lifts foot-and-mouth disease restrictions
- ‘Reasonable prospects’ South Africa’s Comair can be saved – administrators
- Successful OPEC+ output deal fits a pattern: Kemp
- Egypt extends suspension of international flights until further notice
- Lesotho PM, named as suspect in murder case, bows to pressure to quit
- Uganda shilling flat as covid-19 lockdown cuts importer demand
- South Africa manufacturing output down 2.1% y/y in February
- Zimbabweans in South Africa use app to send food home after border restrictions
- Rwanda genocide fugitive Kabuga due before French court
- Sovereign wealth funds fly to relative safety of US assets amid pandemic
- South Africa BCG booster trials seek low cost weapon against covid-19
- Kenya shilling firms against dollar, tight liquidity helps
- Eastern Libya forces pull out of parts of Tripoli
- Kenya herb farmers crushed by virus blow to exports
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters