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

Global Markets

• Asian shares buoyed by coronavirus vaccine hopes
• MSCI ex-Japan rises, most Asian markets in green
• AstraZeneca resumes phase-3 trial for coronavirus vaccine
• UK, US, Japan central bank meetings expected this week
• Brent up 0.5% at $40, gold firm at $1,949.7/oz.

Oil Markets

• Oil mixed as storm threatens US gulf production
• Brent down 3 cents at $39.80 a barrel (0050GMT)
• WTI up 9 cents at $37.42

Precious metals

• Gold gains on weaker dollar, investors await Fed meeting
• Spot gold up 0.4% at $1,949.92/oz. (0309GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.6% at $1,958.60/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans rise above $10/bushel on Chinese demand, corn at 5-mth peak
• Soybean futures up 0.8% at $10.04-1/2 a bushel (0347GMT)
• Corn up 0.6% at $3.70-3/4 a bushel
• Wheat up 0.4% at $5.44 a bushel

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

• Nigeria health workers embark on 7-day strike
• South Africa SACCI business confidence Aug-20 [prev. 82.8]
• ECOWAS leaders meet on Mali in Accra (15 Sep)
• South Africa’s SARB MPC meets on rates; 15-17 Sep [fcst. 3.5%, prev. 3.5%]
• Nigeria inflation Aug-20 [fcst. 12.8% yy, prev. 12.8%]
• Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent

Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today

• Protesters set govt building on fire in eastern Libya
• Uganda, Tanzania sign agreement for construction of crude oil pipeline
• Mali’s M5-RFP coalition rejects junta’s post-coup charter
• South Africa economy to shrink by more than govt’s 7% forecast in 2020 – Mboweni
• Libya medics already faced war, now the pandemic is surging there too
• Saudi Telecom says no deal reached on Vodafone Egypt stake
• Libya’s Haftar committed to ending oil blockade, US says
• Ivory Coast’s Bedie promises to let exiles return if elected president
• Mali negotiators back charter that could see soldier as interim president
• Congo gold miners scour rubble for bodies after cave-in
• Mali interim president can be soldier or civilian – rapporteur
• Congo says it will reimburse VAT to mining companies after audit
• Ambulance hits landmine in southern Mali, killing six
• At least 50 killed in collapsed gold mine in east Congo – NGO
• Uganda, Total reach agreement bringing to fresh 4-wk low on cooler forecasts
• Ivory Coast govt seeks end to violence ahead of October election
• Egypt’s Sisi says appreciates ‘important step’ of Israel, Bahrain establishing diplomatic ties
• Can a tooth settle the mystery over Congo’s independence hero?
• Unilever South Africa takes further steps after ‘racist’ TRESemme advert
• Regional party wins vote in Ethiopia’s Tigray, challenging federal govt
• Six killed in Burundi gun attack, weeks after similar incident
• Risk appetite aids South Africa’s rand recovery, stocks up
• Almost 100 Senegal soldiers test positive for coronavirus
• Junta to appoint Mali leader in 2-yr transition, proposal says
• South Africa bank profits seen taking years to recover from Covid-19 hit
• Malawi’s economy to grow 4.5% in 2021 – finmin
• Zimbabwe divorce law spurs women’s fight for property

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