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