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

Global Markets

• Global shares extend rebound on hopes of G7 support
• Hopes of central bank stimulus lift global shares
• ECB says stands ready to take targeted measures
• G7 conference call planned later on Tuesday
• Australia cuts rates

Oil Markets

• Oil rises a 2^nd day as stimulus hopes, expected OPEC cuts offset virus
• Brent up 2.5% at $53.18 a barrel (0148GMT)
• WTI up 2.8% at $48.07

Precious metals

• Gold extends gains on global monetary easing bets
• Spot gold up 0.5% at $1,597.66/oz. (0236GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.3% at $1,599.10/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans hit near 6-wk high on global stimulus expectations
• Soybean futures up 0.1% at $9.01-1/2 a bushel (0152GMT)
• Corn futures up 0.5% at $3.76-1/2 a bushel
• Wheat futures down 0.2% at $5.22 a bushel

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

• South Africa GDP Q4-2019 [fcst. 0.4% qq saa, prev. -0.6%]
• Ghana’s Akufo-Addo Europe tour; speaks at 2^nd ECR-Africa summit in Brussels
• Nigeria’s Supreme Court reviews its Imo state election judgement [Negative]
• South Africa’s Mabuza briefs NCOP on Eskom, SOEs & land reform

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

• Morocco reports first coronavirus case – health ministry
• Senegal confirms first coronavirus case – health ministry
• Algeria reports two new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to five
• Gunmen kill at least 50 in northern Nigeria state of Kaduna
• Women protest against sexual violence in Malawi
• Camels imported to Libya were not stolen, says owner
• United Nations Libya envoy resigns citing stress
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa makes case for curbing public wage bill
• South Africa’s rand strengthens as Fed cut bets slow virus-linked selloff
• Africa Oil – Trading slow as virus fears weight
• Egypt’s net foreign reserves rise to $45.51 bln in February – c.bank
• Somalia agrees offshore oil exploration roadmap with Shell/Exxon – minister
• Somali forces, supposed to unite against [terrorists], fight each other
• Ivory Coast dry weather raises mid-crop concerns – farmers
• Ivory Coast 2019/20 cocoa port arrivals seen at 1.545 mln T by March 1 – exporters
• South Africa’s Bidvest seeks more hygiene sector deals
• OPEC meetings to go ahead this week despite virus – sources
• Libya govt to move from defence ‘to attack’, minister says
• Somalis turn to Dr Hyena to fight depression, mental illness
• Uganda shilling holds steady as importer demand recedes
• South Africa’s Absa PMI falls to lowest in over a decade
• South Africa – Investec’s Ninety One pushes on with float despite market turmoil
• South Africa’s rand firmer as Fed cut bets slow virus-linked selloff
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa says “focused discussions” needed on public wage bill

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