By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asian shares extend gains as investors count on stimulus, vaccines
- EU recovery fund deal reached
- Investors expect US stimulus of more than $1 trillion
- Nikkei up 0.6%, MSCI Asia-Pacific ex-Japan up 1.5%
- Gold firm at $1,818/oz.
- Brent up 0.1% at $43.35, WTI flat at $40.94
Oil Markets
- Oil steady as vaccine news counters rise in virus cases
- Brent up 15 cents at $43.43 a barrel (0117GMT)
- WTI up 2 cents at $40.83
Precious metals
- Gold near 9-yr high as virus fears support safe-haven demand
- Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,818.53/oz. (0040GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.1% at $1,819/oz.
Grains
- Corn, soybeans slip on sound US crop conditions, wheat slide continues
- Corn futures down 0.6% at $3.33-3/4 a bushel (0208GMT)
- Soybeans down 0.4% at $8.96-3/4 a bushel
- Wheat down 0.3% at $5.20-1/2 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- Issoufou, Akufo-Addo & Ouattara expected in Mali to solve crisis [Anytime this week from today]
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa chairs follow-up AU summit on Ethiopia GERD talks
- South Africa central bank MPC meets; 21-23 Jul [fcst. 3.75%, prev. 3.75%]
- Nigeria’s agriculture minister Nanono speaks on food security amid covid-19 at virtual conference
- Ivory Coast’s Ouattara expected to respond to party’s request to seek third term
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
- 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
- Egypt’s Sisi wins parliamentary approval for possible Libya intervention
- West Africa presidents to head to Mali to help solve crisis
- Trump, Macron discuss situation in Libya – White House
- Algeria aims to reform tax system, targets informal market
- Vowing reform, Kenyan emerges as one of early WTO frontrunners
- Nigeria official collapses during televised Niger Delta corruption hearing
- South Africa outbreak should be wake-up call for continent – WHO
- Egypt says Sisi and Trump agree on need to maintain Libya ceasefire
- West Congo ebola cases up to 60, funerals a risk, says WHO
- Kenya’s No. 2 retailer seeks strategic investor as supplier debts mount
- Zimbabwe police arrest critics ahead of anti-govt protests
- Egyptians struggle to return to work even as lockdown lifts
- Egypt’s Sisi discusses Libya & Ethiopia dam with Trump – presidency
- More sun, rain needed to strengthen Ivory Coast main cocoa crop – farmers
- Pay rises for civil servants amid crisis are unjust and unaffordable, South Africa govt says
- Vodacom partners with China’s Alipay to create ‘super app’ in South Africa
- CEO of South Africa state defence firm Denel to step down
- Pirates kidnap seven Russia sailors in Gulf of Guinea
- Zimbabwe Econet asks court to suspend warrant in money laundering case
- Ivory Coast ruling party says it has asked president to run again
- South Africa’s Spur CEO Van Tonder to retire in Dec
- Ethiopia farmers slaughter thousands of chicks as covid hits demand
- Zimbabwe on course to meet 2020 budget deficit target – finmin
- Kenya fishermen say they are squeezed by Ethiopia mega dam
- Coronavirus causes poaching spike in Congo’s Virunga park
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters