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

Global Markets

• Asian stocks grind higher as focus turns to earnings
• Investors hope for positive outlook from US firms on earnings
• China rally extends, CSI300 hits 5-yr high while yuan gains
• Gold steady above $1,800/oz.

Oil Markets

• Oil prices idle as coronavirus spike fears offset signs of gasoline recovery
• Brent up 3 cents at $43.32 a barrel (0035GMT)
• WTI unchanged at $40.90

Precious metals

• Gold holds above $1,800 level as virus casts long shadow
• Spot gold little changed at $1,808.44/oz. (0243GMT)
• US gold futures flat at $1,819.80/oz.

Grains

• Wheat hits 1-mth peak on supply concerns as production outlook dips
• Wheat futures up 0.5% at $5.19 a bushel
• Soybeans up 0.1% at $8.99 a bushel
• Corn up 0.1% at $3.54-1/4 a bushel

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

• Kenya & US negotiate bilateral trade deal (from 8 July)
• Nigeria govt clarification on reported detention of anti-graft chief expected
• South Africa releases manufacturing production data
• 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

• Nigeria’s confirmed coronavirus cases pass 30,000 – NCDC
• Ghana activists sue govt to save forest from mine
• Ivory Coast premier and would-be president Gon Coulibaly dies at 61
• Tunisia budget deficit in 2020 will be more than 5 pct of GDP
• Total secures $15.8 bln in funding for Mozambique gas project – FNB
• Egypt keeps domestic fuel prices unchanged – statement
• UN chief says foreign meddling in Libya conflict at ‘unprecedented levels’
• Malawi appoints Wilson Banda as new central bank governor
• Seven killed in oil platform ladder installation blast in southern Nigeria – NNPC
• Nigeria naira resumes official market trading as FX rates unify
• US, Kenya formally launch trade deal talks
• IMF must fine-tune lending instruments for poorest states – Georgieva
• Eni CEO commits to Libya after meeting with al-Sarraj
• Coronavirus tipping sovereign rating balance into junk – Fitch
• Nigeria naira resumes trading at 381 per dollar on official market
• France calls for release of Mali opposition leader Cisse
• South Africa’s Steinhoff agrees to sell stake in Conforama France to Mobilux
• South Africa Airways to offer training for up to 1,000 staff
• Russia working on intermediate Libya ceasefire with Turkey – Ifax
• With schools closed, child labour on the rise in lockdown Uganda
• Namibia to ground national carrier’s license over cash hole
• Kenya shilling under pressure agains dollar
• Somalia – Two policemen killed in roadside blast in Mogadishu – witness
• In Africa, lack of coronavirus data raises fears of “silent epidemic”
• Kenya sports minister Mohamed to bid for top WTO job
• Dozen of bodies found in Burkina Faso, and rights group suspects extrajudicial killings

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