By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asian stocks fall on US stimulus uncertainty
- US gridlock on stimulus deal dents share prices
- Russia vaccine triggers escape from safe-haven assets
- Value-oriented shares bought back globally
- Brent up 0.2% at $44.60, WTI up 0.1% at $41.66
Oil Markets
- Oil prices bolstered by bigger-than-expected drop in US crude stocks
- Brent up 0.3% at $44.65 a barrel (0206GMT)
- WTI up 0.2% at $41.70
Precious metals
- Gold falls below $1,900 level as US dollar, yields rise
- Gold down nearly $140 from Friday’s close
- Spot gold down 1.1% at $1,889.59/oz. (0330GMT)
- US gold futures down 2.4% at $1,900/oz.
Grains
- Corn edges lower as traders await key USDA report
- Corn futures down 0.2% at $3.23 a bushel
- Soybeans down 0.3% at $8.71-1/4 a bushel
- Wheat down 0.5% at $4.92-1/2 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- International youth day; Africa’s jobless in focus
- Kenya county revenue allocation row continues in Senate
- South Africa retail sales Jun-20 [fcst. -6.6% yy prev. -12.0%]
- 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
- Sea life around Mauritius dying as Japan ship oil spill spreads
- Mali protests resume as thousands call for president to resign
- Egypt vote for newly created Senate
- Nigeria opens pipeline, depot repair to private investors – tender
- At least 81 people killed as South Sudan’s disarmament erupts in violence
- Outrage as Somalia parliament drafts law permitting child, forced marriages
- Niger expands emergency across region where aid workers were killed
- UK’s Prudential to exit US business, focus on Asia, Africa
- Angola’s beleaguered dos Santos steps down from Unitel
- Japan ship that caused Mauritius oil spill passed annual checks
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
