By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Chinese stocks underpin Asia; markets wary of virus spike, US presidential debate
- Asia ex-Japan shares gain led by China; Nikkei rises too
- Oil prices lower on rising virus cases
- Investors jittery ahead of US presidential debate on Tues
Oil Markets
- Oil slips as surge in virus cases cloud demand recovery
- Iran ramps up shipments in Sept; Libya resuming exports
- Workers’ strike threatens Norway’s output
- Brent down 0.6% to $41.69 a barrel (0243GMT)
- WTI down 0.5% at $40.04
Precious metals
- Gold inches higher on subdued dollar; Trump-Biden debate in focus
- Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,861.02/oz. (0326GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.1% at $1,863.70/oz.
Grains
- Corn, soybeans rise on S.American dryness; wheat firms
- Soybean futures up 0.2% at $10.00-3/4 a bushel (0321GMT)
- Corn up 0.1% at $3.65-1/2 a bushel
- Wheat up 0.2% at $5.45-1/4 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- Nigerians wake up to news they have to go to work
- Bank of Ghana decides on rates [fcst. 14.5%, prev. 14.5%]
- Ghana’s NDC flagbearer Mahama campaigns in Bono region
- South Africa producer inflation Aug-20 [fcst. 2.5% yy, prev. 1.9%]
- 75th session of UN General Assembly (15-30 Sep); speeches & engagements by African leaders
- Potential constitutional crisis in Kenya in focus; 12th Oct deadline by lawyers’ body LSK for dissolution of parliament
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
- Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent
- Central Bank of Kenya decides on rates (29 Sep) [fcst. 7.0%, prev. 7.0%]
- South Africa consumer inflation Aug-20 (30 Sep) [fcst. 3.7% yy, prev. 3.2%]
- South Africa PSCE Aug-20 (30 Sep) [fcst. 3.5% yy, prev. 5.1%]
- South Africa M3 Aug-20 (30 Sep) [fcst. 10.1% yy, prev. 10.5%]
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
- Nigeria’s main unions suspend planned strike after govt talks
- Diplomat named Mali PM, meeting regional bloc demand for civilian
- Mali president names diplomat Moctar Ouane as interim prime minister
- South Africa defence minister’s pay docked over use of military plane
- Sudan rejects linking removal from US terrorism list with Israel ties
- Suspected militants kill at least 11 in attack on convoy in northeastern Nigeria
- Tremors felt in Cape Town after earthquake off South Africa coast
- CAR President Touadera announces second term bid
- Ivory Coast says new West Africa currency launch may take five years
- Palestinians say Egypt fire killed two Gaza fishermen
- Congo security forces thwart rebel attempt to seize mining hub
- Armed militia kills at least 15 people in western Ethiopia
- Togo’s prime minister & govt resign, presidency says
- Nigeria air travel could shut as unions pledge to join strike
- Ethiopia tells UN ‘no intention’ of using dam to harm Egypt, Sudan
- US to provide $720 mln Syria aid & funds for Sahel, South Sudan
- ‘Hotel Rwanda’ inspiration tells court he did not direct attacks
- For Uganda activist, Covid curbs set new hurdle in climate fight
- ‘Groundbreaking’ Lesotho study reveals high cost of domestic violence
- Shell books tanker to load crude at Libya’s Zueitina oil port
- Severe flooding in South Sudan displaces more than 600,000 – UN
- Israel becomes new obstacle for Sudan in quest to leave US terrorism list
- South Africa to purchase 6,800 MW of solar, wind power, says energy minister
- Land hunters: App matches Zimbabwe’s farmers with vacant plots
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters