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

Global Markets

• Shares struggle to shake off bearish mood as US tech giants fall anew
• MSCI AxJ down 0.2%, Nikkei up 0.3%
• NYSE Fang+ index down 5.4% so far this week
• Brent down 0.2% at $39.98, WTI flat at $37.30

Oil Markets

• Oil extends losses as stockpile rise amid weakening demand
• Brent down 0.5% at $39.88 a barrel (0337GMT)
• WTI down 0.4% at $37.16

Precious metals

• Gold slips from 1-wk peak hit by stronger dollar
• Spot gold down 0.8% at $1,938.53/oz. (0308GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.8% at $1,948/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans set for fifth weekly gain as China ramps up purchases
• Corn set for positive finish as market eyes USDA forecast
• Soybeans up 13% so far in 5 weeks
• Soybean futures up 1.2% this week
• Corn up 2.2% for the week

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

• South Africa SACCI business confidence Aug-20 [prev. 82.8]
• AGRF virtual “Feed the Cities” summit in Kigali; 8-11 Sep
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent

Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today

• Zimbabwe divorce law spurs women’s fight for property
• Protests flare in Libya’s Benghazi over power cuts, living conditions
• Sudan declares state of economic emergency after sharp fall in currency
• Nigeria’s central bank told to stop giving forex for food imports
• Nigeria President Buhari directs central bank to stop issuing foreign exchange for food imports
• Nigeria doctors suspend strike to allow govt time to meet demands
• Suspected militants kill at least 53 in eastern Congo
• Mozambique denies accusations of abuses in insurgency-hit province
• Unilever South Africa to pull all TRESemme products for 10 days over ‘racist’ ad
• Death toll in eastern Congo village attacks rises to at least 53
• Communities ‘left out’ as oil pipeline project set to get underway in East Africa
• EU sea patrol stops UAE ship on suspicion of breaking Libya arms embargo
• AstraZeneca vaccine trial pause a “wake-up call”, says WHO
• Egypt to hold parliamentary elections on Oct 24-25 – elections commissioner
• Libya’s NOC says armed group entered Sharara oil field on Sunday, one person killed
• CAR seeks justice for rural victims of sexual violence
• Ivory Coast to hike farmgate cocoa prices 21% this season, sources say
• South Africa’s Harmony Gold expects to swing to a full year loss
• South Africa Airways needs state cash next week – administrators
• WHO says $700 mln raised so far for Covid-19 vaccines initiative for poor
• Uganda says to re-open airport and resume international flights on Oct. 1
• South Africa’s FirstRand hopes to return to dividends next year
• South Africa’s manufacturing output falls 10.6% y/y in July
• Police and protesters clash as Mali starts post-coup transition talks
• South Africa Airways needs state cash next week – administrators
• South Africa’s Aspen to seek acquisitions in emerging markets
• South Africa’s Dis-chem joins list of retailers removing TRESemme products from shelves
• South Africa’s Eskom expects 2021 replacement of generators at nuclear plant
• Chickens roost in Kenya’s empty classrooms amid Covid-19 shutdown
• Kenya county tackles water woes with locally led climate fund
• Insurer Sanlam posts profit rise, to expand across Africa
• South Africa insurer Sanlam reports 10% half-year profit rise

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