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