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

Global Markets

• Asia looks to safer shores in US assets as virus spreads
• Dollar scales 3-yr peak, sovereign bonds in demand
• Markets spooked as virus spreads outside China
• Nikkei dips even as yen’s slide aids exporters
• Gold reaches a 7-yr peak; watching flash PMIs

Oil Markets

• Oil prices slide as coronavirus spread beyond China raises demand worries
• Brent down 0.4% at $59.07 a barrel (0155GMT)
• WTI down 0.5% at $53.63

Precious metals

• Gold steady near 7-yr peak as persistent virus fears dampen China stimulus
• Spot gold little changed at $1,619.33/oz. (0108GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.1% at $1,622.60/oz.

Grains

• Wheat edges higher, set for biggest weekly gain in almost 3 mths
• Wheat futures up more than 3% so far this week
• Soybean futures little changed for the week
• Corn futures up slightly for the week, after losing 1.5% last week

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

• South Africa armed forces day; Ramaphosa to officiate
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• Togo presidential election; 22 Feb

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

• Algeria leader warns against attempts to incite protesters to violence
• Libya’s NOC oil output at 122,424 bpd as of Feb. 20
• Nigeria asks US to remove it from visa restriction list
• Sudan security forces crack down on protest over dismissed officers
• Egypt’s central bank keeps overnight interest rates steady
• Ethiopia gets back Christian crown spirited away to Rotterdam decades ago
• Africa Oil – Nigerian programmes trickle out
• Morocco ready for next step in dirham float process, says finance minister
• Zambia police arrest 16 suspects after chemical attacks
• South Sudan to form unity govt by Saturday deadline
• Kenya’s Absa Bank says virtual banking app used by almost 5 mln customers
• South Africa’s rand weakens on strong US dollar; stocks down
• Namibia to repeal two tax policies, partly to appease EU
• Court voids conviction of Ugandan academic known for crude attacks on president
• Top worry for young Africans? Jobs and corruption – but green anxieties grow
• Togo’s president seeks re-election to extend 50-yr dynasty
• Lesotho PM faces charge of murdering first wife, says to step down
• Ivory Coast to issue $380 mln eurobond this year – PM
• Angola’s Isabel dos Santos says repaid bulk of loans to Portuguese banks
• Uganda shilling trades flat on sluggish appetite
• Kenya police killings in poor Nairobi districts continue – rights group
• South African miner Exxaro to sell Leeuwpan and Exxaro Coal Central
• Malawi maize output to climb 8.8% as rains return
• Kenya shilling under pressure from end-mth dollar demand
• Namibia first African country to export red meat to hungry US market
• Russia: oil producers agree no need to hold early OPEC+ meeting
• Womenswear mistakes, poor Black Friday dent South Africa’s Woolworths’ half-year profit
• Investors in South Africa’s Discovery soothed on spending, shares rise 7%
• Egyptair to resume flights to China from next week – statement
• Algeria ready to mediate in Libya ceasefire talks – president to paper
• Kenya to issue 150 bln shillings roads bond by June – report
• South Africa’s Discovery reports 10% drop in profit
• South Africa’s Truworths post marginal rise in profit
• South Africa’s Woolworth HY earnings fall 17.7%

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