By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asian shares gain after solid US data, focus on virus
- Upbeat US private jobs, service data lift mood
- WHO says no break-through reported on coronavirus drugs
Oil Markets
- Oil gains a second day as coronavirus optimism may mean demand rebound
- Brent up 1.1% at $55.90 a barrel (0142GMT)
- WTI up 1.4% at $51.48
Precious metals
- Gold steady as virus fears offset robust US data
- Spot gold flat at $1,556.36/oz. (0100GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.2% at $1,559.30/oz.
Grains
- Soybeans extend gains for fourth straight day
- Soybean futures up 0.4% at $8.83-3/4 a bushel (0127GMT)
- Corn futures unchanged at $3.80-3/4 a bushel
- Wheat futures up 0.4% at $5.64-3/4 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- International day of zero tolerance for FGM
- Germany’s Merkel visits South Africa
- Ghana’s main opposition NDC press briefing on Airbus scandal
- Kenya’s Kenyatta in Washington DC for trade talks
- African Union executive council meets
- South Africa SACCI business confidence Jan-20 [prev. 93.1]
- South Africa state capture inquiry continues
- Investing in African mining indaba in Cape Town; 3-6 Feb
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
- Kenya wants close ties with both US and China, Kenyan president says
- Female genital mutilation hurts economies says WHO
- Sudan gives Israel initial okay for overflights – official
- Nigeria drafting oil reform bill “from scratch” to pass this year – Senate President
- OPEC+ technical meeting drags on amid oil cut debate
- Malawi presidency to challenge court ruling overturning vote result
- Algeria names new chief for state energy firm Sonatrach – state TV
- Ivory Coast navy seizes record cocaine haul off coast
- Africa Oil – Contango market, China virus upends trading
- Nigeria sets ambitious target for mining sector growth
- South Africa’s rand firms for third straight session
- Lesotho PM’s wife in court charged with killing his previous wife
- Italian court throws out witness request in Eni Nigeria graft case
- Egypt’s c.bank to auction $900 mln of 1-yr t-bills on Feb 10
- ‘Fragile’ Africa prepares for high risk of coronavirus spread
- Morocco’s unemployment rate slips to 9.2% in 2019
- Saudi Telecom must offer to buy remaining 45% in Vodafone Egypt – regulator
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa open to Eskom debt proposal
- Qatar Airways swoops for RwandAir stake and eyes bigger LATAM holding
- Tunisia’s next govt must be broad-based, says leader of biggest party
- First payment in South African silicosis settlement expected in Q2
- Morocco’s trade deficit widens by 1.5% in 2019
- Tunisia’s gas output capacity jumps 50% as Nawara field opens
- Ghana draws strong demand as sells $3 bln in eurobonds
- Nigeria sees exponential growth in mining sector within five years – minister
- Nigeria’s contortionists go out on a limb for recognition
- 8-yr old rapper strikes chord in Uganda with songs about poverty
- Uganda shilling weakens as interbank players beef up positions
- Nigeria customs find $8 mln in cash on bus at airport
- Kenya private sector activity down in January – PMI
- Kenya shilling strengthened due to inflows from remittances
- South Africa private sector activity shrinks again in Jan – PMI
- Trafigura to take 100% control of its Zimbabwe fuel import business
- IMF lowers Uganda growth projection, cites oil investment delays
- Sudan’s Burhan casts doubt on rapid normalization of ties with Israel
- Measles vaccine drive aims to protect 45 mln children in Africa, Asia
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters