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

Global Markets

• Record-breaking stocks take a breather, data weighs on dollar
• Lull in momentum as Wall Street scales record peaks
• MSCI AxJ heads for steady week, softest in a month
• Dollar bounce runs out of puff as US labour market looks weak
• Brent last up 0.4% at $45.06, gold steady at $1,947.66/oz.

Oil Markets

• Oil climbs for third straight week, buoyed by producers holding back output
• Brent up 0.4% at $44.07 a barrel (0158GMT)
• WTI up 0.2% at $42.90

Precious metals

• Gold rises as softer dollar, recovery concerns lift demand
• Spot gold up 0.4% at $1,949.83/oz. (0030GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.6% at $1,958.30/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans, corn set for 2^nd week of gains; US crop outlook weighs
• Wheat futures up 5.8% so far this week
• Soybeans on course for weekly gain of 1%
• Corn set to add 0.7% for the week

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

• Ghana presidential frontrunners Akufo-Addo & Mahama tour regions
• Ghana’s ruling NPP launches 2020 manifesto (22 Aug)
• Kenya’s Kenyatta cabinet reshuffle back in focus
• 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

• On Libya’s front lines, Sirte is focus for regional rivalries
• Morocco may reimpose full lockdown as Covid-19 cases surge – King
• Miner B2Gold says Mali border shutdown to be short-lived after coup
• Regional delegation to visit Mali to try to reverse coup as junta, opposition close ranks
• Mali junta orders border re-opened after coup
• Somalia pirates release last 3 hostages as armed men attack Panama-flagged ship
• Scientists peer inside ancient Egypt cat, snake and bird mummies
• Nigeria to bar flights from countries that block Nigerians – minister
• Ivory Coast, Ghana create joint body to coordinate cocoa policies
• France’s Macron asks for quick transition to civilian rule in Mali
• Senegal port seeks removal of 2,700 tonnes of chemical that caused Beirut blast
• Mauritius starts to scuttle Japan oil-spill vessel
• South Africa’s Gold Fields profit jumps on surging bullion prices
• Libya’s humanitarian crisis deepens, talks needed – Red Cross says
• Ethiopia protest clashes kill at least nine, most by gunshot, doctors say
• African beginning to “bend the curve” of coronavirus – Africa CDC
• Nigeria considers using private firms to coronavirus tests after foreign flights resume
• OPEC+ needs to fix daily oversupply of more than 2 mln barrels – document
• Sonae ditches partnership with Angola’s dos Santos in Portugal’s NOS
• South Africa airports group ACSA gets new funding, shelves projects
• France says its military operation Barkhane will continue in Mali
• Uproar after Somali lawmaker presents bill to legalise child marriage
• Nigeria’s wet market thrive desipite coronavirus pandemic

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