By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asian shares extend rally, US earnings to test optimism
- Asia ex-Japan share index near 5-mth top
- Markets brace for US earnings season
- Investors upbeat even as coronavirus cases surge in US
Oil Markets
- Oil slips as traders eye supply cut easing at OPEC meeting
- OPEC JMMC to meet Tues-Wed to decide on supply cuts
- Libya exports first crude cargo in 6 mths
- Brent down 27 cents at $42.97 a barrel (0114GMT)
- WTI down 28 cents at $40.27
Precious metals
- Gold holds firm above $1,800/oz. on virus fears, weaker dollar
- Spot gold up 0.3% at $1,803.80/oz. (0303GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.4% at $1,809.10/oz.
Grains
- Corn drops 2.5% on US rain relief
- Corn futures down 2.5% at $3.36-1/4 a bushel (0022GMT)
- Soybeans down 0.7% at $8.84-1/2 a bushel
- Wheat down 1.5% at $5.26-1/4 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- Nigeria presents 2nd national voluntary review on SDGs to the UN
- Electoral Commission of Ghana briefs press on ongoing voter registration
- Kenya SGR resumes operations
- Nigeria suspended anti-graft chief reappears before probe committee
- Nigeria doctors in Lagos go on 3-day strike
- Key African countries on lockdown or restricted; subdued economic activity
- Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
- Tunisia parties seek to oust parliament speaker, Islamists want new govt
- South Africa reimposes alcohol ban, curfew as coronavirus cases spike
- Libya’s NOC resumes force majeure, says UAE behind oil blockade
- Sudan to allow drinking alcohol for non-Muslims, ban FGM
- Mali opposition rejects president’s concessions aimed at ending impasse
- Saudi Telecom extends Vodafone Egypt stake purchase for second time
- Mali opposition says more leaders arrested after mass protest
- Libya’s LNA says blockade on oil will continue
- Congo justice minister resigns after judicial reform dispute
- Five killed in attack on South Africa church, hostages freed
- Mali police fire gunshots and tear gas to disperse protesters
- Mali’s state television ORTM goes off-air after protesters occupy building
- Africa Oil – Nigeria likely to slip, Angola lingers
- South Africa set to make SAA funding commitment, official says
- Ethiopia arrests suspects in the killing of popular singer
- South Africa’s Denel seeks to revise bailout conditions to survive
- Nigeria suspends anti-graft chief during investigation into agency
- Germany says suspected Egypt spy had no access to sensitive data
- Moody’s: Ethiopia political tensions are credit negative
- South Africa’s banks mull how to avoid loan defaults when virus relief ends
- South Africa’s Eskom implements first power outages in months
- Uganda cracks down on media ahead of elections in 2021, watchdog says
- Burkina Faso queries Human Rights Watch report on army killings
- Libya lifts exports force majeure but says output recovery to be slow
- Botswana gets first test results on elephant deaths
- Nigeria president signs revised 2020 budget into law – aide
- Premier of South Africa’s Gauteng province tests positive for covid-19
- Uganda shilling firms on low demand for dollars
- Kenya shilling under pressure against dollar
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters