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

Global Markets

• Asian stocks rebound, Fed soothes with boundless QE
• S&P 500 futures bounce in Asia, Nikkei jumps
• Dollar off peaks on promise of bottomless liquidity
• Factory surveys to show extent of economic damage

Oil Markets

• Oil prices climb as US ramps up economic support measures
• Brent up 2.3% at $27.65 a barrel (0346GMT)
• WTI up 3.3% at $24.12

Precious metals

• Gold jumps 2% as Fed bonanza stalls cash rush
• Spot gold up 1.3% at $1,573.17/oz. (0333GMT)
• US gold futures up 1.5% at $1,590.50/oz.

Grains

• Wheat retreats 1% on strong US dollar
• Wheat futures down 1.2% at $5.55-1/2 a bushel (0053GMT)
• Soybean futures down 0.1% at $8.83-1/4 a bushel
• Corn futures down 0.6% at $3.41-1/2 a bushel

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

• Inter-ministerial briefing on South Africa 21-day lockdown
• Central Bank of Nigeria MPC decision [fcst. 13.5%, prev. 13.5%]

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

• DR Congo locks down mining area, workers sent home over coronavirus
• Virus-control measures to hit Rio Tinto operations in South Africa, Canada
• Ivory Coast, Senegal declare emergencies, impose curfews in coronavirus response
• China Moly to isolate TFM copper mine in Congo due to coronavirus – note
• Egypt reports 5 more coronavirus deaths for a total of 19 – health ministry
• Tunisia discussing new IMF programme – finmin
• South Africa to impose 21-day lockdown from midnight Thursday as coronavirus cases jump
• Nigeria closes land borders to fight coronavirus spread
• Currency black market re-emerges in Egypt as coronavirus spreads
• Algeria imposes curfew in capital
• WHO warns of ‘accelerating’ pandemic, expects Olympics decision soon
• Former DR Congo health minister convicted of embezzling ebola funds
• Sudan imposes 10-hr night-time curfew to curb coronavirus spread
• UN chief wants $2 bln to help poor countries combat coronavirus
• Africa Oil – Nigeria programmes emerge after OSPs slashed
• South Africa’s Eskom invites bids to plug short-term power gap
• Libya combatants resume fighting despite coronavirus truce call
• Egypt postpones sessions till April 12 over coronavirus – MENA
• Mozambique army, insurgents battle in town close to gas projects – police
• Nigeria’s Seplat cuts costs and drilling plans amid oil price crash – CFO
• South Africa’s Sibanye-Stillwater cuts US workers in response to virus
• South Africa’s rand on the ropes as virus fears mount
• Despite OPEC+ deal collapse, Saudi oil exports yet to rise – sources
• Coronavirus hits Botswana’s first elephant hunting season since 2014
• Egypt central bank tells commercial banks to cut interest on dollar deposits – bankers
• South Africa – Fired Old Mutual boss Moyo’s appeal dismissed – Old Mutual
• Kenya central bank cuts rates sharply, lowers banks’ cash ratio
• South Africa’s Sibanye-Stillwater temporarily cuts workers at US operations on COVID-19 outbreak
• Zimbabwe records first coronavirus death – health minister
• African finance ministers call for $100 bln stimulus, debt holiday
• Malawi to hold another presidential election in July
• Tunisia orders army into streets to enforce coronavirus lockdown
• Endeavour Mining swoops on Semafo to create top Burkina Faso gold miner
• East Libya imposes full curfew over coronavirus
• Saudi Arabia CDS climb to record high, Russia, South Africa at multi-year peaks
• South Africa’s confirmed coronavirus cases jump by 128 to 402
• Former oil official is Nigeria’s first coronavirus fatality – NCDC
• Ford decides to halt production in India, South Africa on coronavirus impact
• Nigeria 1-yr naira forward records biggest fall in over 10-years after devaluation
• Tunisia says IMF will disburse $400 mln to help it face coronavirus effects
• Second Egypt military official dies of coronavirus
• Coronavirus provides unexpected boost for Kenya fishermen
• Congo imposes 48-hr lockdown on mining province over coronavirus
• In the shadow of ebola and covid-19, measles rips through Congo
• Kenya farmers brace for second onslaught of crop-devouring locusts
• Kenya shilling edges down as investors flee to safety
• Mining company Katanga sues China MMG’s Kinsevere mine in Congo
• Uganda shilling extends losing streak amid demand by banks, offshore investors
• South Africa’s Alexander Forbes cancels $56 mln plan to buy out shareholder

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