By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asian stocks slip as Trump warns of horrors to come
- Trump warns of ‘horrific’ days ahead
- Asian stocks slip, bonds rally, dollar firms
- US jobless claims due at 1230 GMT, seen hitting fresh record
Oil Markets
- Oil surges as Trump talks up hopes for truce in Saudi-Russia price war
- Brent up 4% at $25.74 a barrel (0118GMT)
- WTI up 3.7% at $21.06
Precious metals
- Gold slips as dollar holds firm; US jobs data awaited
- Spot gold down 0.4% at $1,584.50/oz. (0312GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.4% at $1,597.20/oz.
Grains
- Soybeans ease for 2nd session as coronavirus fears hit markets
- Soybeans down 0.4% at $8.59-3/4 a bushel (0058GMT)
- Wheat up 0.2% at $5.51-1/2 a bushel
- Corn up 0.3% at $3.35-3/4 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- Key African countries on lockdown; subdued economic activity
- Covid-19 updates by health authorities across the continent
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
- Egypt’s health sector races to scale up coronavirus readiness
- IMF has strong resources to deal with virus crisis, working to identify more – officials
- South Africa needs ‘hundreds of thousands’ of virus tests – health minister
- Africa seeks IMF, World Bank, EU backing on debt relief
- Fidelity Bank cuts profit target as coronavirus hits Nigeria
- Africa Oil – Sell tender awarded, Angolan diffs deeply negative
- South Africa’s Eskom sends force majeure notices to wind farms
- Tunisia banks to defer loan payments, suspend dividend distribution
- Rand roiled by rising South Africa growth fears
- Nigeria’s Fidelity Bank prepares eurobond coupon before due date – executive
- South Africa insurer Discovery, Vodacom set up online virus consultation service
- South Africa’s 2019/20 tax revenue at 1.4 trillion rand, short of target
- Nigeria banks limit debit card withdrawals abroad
- Somali doctor, veteran of many battles, girds for war with coronavirus
- World Bank approves delayed $500 million education loan to Tanzania
- South Africa says ports remain open despite lockdown
- Coronavirus seen as trigger for mobile money growth in West Africa
- Nigeria stocks hit new 8-yr low as coronavirus lockdown enters day two
- Uganda doctors say anti-coronavirus measures could cause deaths
- Uganda shilling holds steady due to reduced market activity
- South Africa’s Eskom could buy less power from wind farms during lockdown
- Kenya shilling under pressure from the dollar
- Fitch, Moody’s downgrade South Africa banks to junk
- Africa wants IMF, World Bank & EU support on debt relief – UNECA
- South Africa Absa PMI contracts for 14th straight month
- Glencore’s chrome joint venture in South Africa with Merafe declares force majeure
- Ethiopia postpones August election due to coronavirus
- US air strike killed civilians in Somalia, Amnesty International says
- South Africa should seek IMF funding to deal with pandemic – IIF
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
