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

Global Markets

• Stocks run out of steam on US job jitters, yen gains
• US stimulus bill passed, jobless figures dreaded
• Nikkei falls 4%
• Dollar jumps vs Aussie & kiwi

Oil Markets

• Oil prices mixed as demand shrinks, but stimulus hopes support
• Brent up 0.4% at $27.51 a barrel (0018GMT)
• WTI down 0.2% at $24.45

Precious metals

• Gold falls on cash run
• Spot gold down 0.6% at $1,604.16/oz. (0038GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.3% at $1,639/oz.

Grains

• Wheat retreats from 2-mth peak on profit-taking
• Wheat hit a Jan 21 high of $5.83-1/4 on Wed.
• Consumers rush for staples such as bread, supporting prices
• Corn falls, soybeans edge lower
• Wheat down 1.6% at $5.71 a bushel
• Soybean down 0.7% at $8.75-3/4 a bushel
• Corn down 0.9% at $3.45-1/2 a bushel

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

• South Africa locks down for 21 days
• Kenya flight ban now in force
• South Africa producer inflation Feb-20 [fcst. 4.5% yy, prev. 4.6%]
• G20 emergency video summit by chair Saudi Arabia

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

• Algeria confirms jail sentences for two former PMs
• Libya battles escalate as coronavirus arrives in country
• War-ravaged, impoverished Somalia starts on road to debt relief
• EU wheat resumes rally with Chicago despite small Algeria buy
• IMF, World Bank clear Somalia for debt relief, normal ties to world
• Africa Oil – As storage fills up, overhang lingers
• Kenya announces tax cuts and curfew in battle with coronavirus
• Nigeria army prepares for coronavirus lockdown, mass burials
• Uganda, usually welcoming to refugees, bars all new arrivals to contain coronavirus
• Nigeria central bank to stay open amid coronavirus outbreak
• Sudan frees thousands of prisoners as coronavirus precaution
• South Africa watchdog considers spectrum boost for telecoms companies
• Tunisia coronavirus cases jump by around 50%
• Zimbabwe nurses walk out, customs officials protest over coronavirus fears
• Kenya to cut VAT to 14% to cushion economy over impact of virus – president
• South Africa assets recover as central bank turns to QE
• Egypt deep cleans pyramids site emptied of tourists
• Guinea-Bissau confirms first two cases of coronavirus
• Air Namibia suspends all flights until 20 April
• Botswana hikes power tariffs by 22% to help loss-making utility
• IMF says coronavirus to hit sub-Saharan Africa’s growth hard
• South Africa prepares quarantine sites as coronavirus cases rise to 709
• Libya commander says probe of seized tanker to start after quarantine
• Militants kill nearly 100 Chad soldiers in attack
• Zimbabwe customs officials walk out over coronavirus fears
• Italy lends Tunisia 50 mln euros for coronavirus – sources
• Taking QE route, South Africa central bank starts buying bonds
• Zambia coronavirus cases increase to 12
• MTN Uganda eliminates mobile money charges amid coronavirus outbreak
• Mali reports first two cases of coronavirus – govt statement
• In coronavirus, Senegal rappers find a new enemy to fight
• South Africa reappoints Naidoo as central bank deputy governor
• Afreximbank creates $3 bln pandemic credit facility for Africa
• South Africa Eskom says coal stocks healthy ahead of lockdown
• Sudan defence minister dies of heart attck in South Sudan
• South Africa govt bonds jump after central bank launches bond buying
• Kenya shilling strengthens on reduced dollar demand
• South Africa largest refinery to minimise maintenance over coronavirus shutdown
• [Militants] claim Mozambique attack close to gas projects

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