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

Global Markets

• Asian shares cautiously gain on virus hopes, dollar slips
• Early signs of virus peaking in Europe, New York
• Broad gains from Tokyo to Sydney but momentum ebbs
• Currencies, bonds steady as economic risks weighed

Oil Markets

• Oil gains as hopes rise for production cut amid coronavirus outbreak
• Brent up 2.2% at $33.78 a barrel (0026GMT)
• WTI up 3.7% at $27.05

Precious metals

• Gold slips from 4-wk high as dollar, equities firm on coronavirus slowdown
• Spot gold down 0.2% at $1,657.67/oz. (0110GMT)
• US gold futures up 1.7% at $1,723

Grains

• Corn heads higher after dropping for seven straight sessions
• Corn up 0.6% at $3.29-3/4 a bushel (0226GMT)
• Soybean up 0.6% at $8.61
• Wheat down 0.6% at $5.51-1/4

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

• Kenya locks down Nairobi (6 Apr) & Kilifi, Mombasa & Kwale (8 Apr)
• South Africa Eskom global investor update call
• South Africa FX reserves Mar-20 [prev. $54.7B]
• Key African countries on lockdown; subdued economic activity
• Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent

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

• Trump says OPEC has not asked him for a US oil production cut
• Morocco makes face masks compulsory due to coronavirus
• OPEC+ likely to agree to cut production if US joins effort – sources
• Egypt reports 149 new coronavirus cases, its highest daily toll
• Morocco looks to foreign debt to deal with coronavirus impact
• South Africa central bank asks lenders to scrap dividends amid virus
• South Africa should not approach IMF for help, ANC and allies say
• “We are at war”: Kenya halts movement to areas worst hit by coronavirus
• Zimbabwe eases coronavirus lockdown to allow diaspora remittances flow
• South Africa central bank announces regulatory relief for banks
• Gunmen kill 25 soldiers in north Mali attack – army spokesman
• Africa Oil – Sonangol sells Cabinda, Girassol cargoes
• South Africa Eskom plans global investor update call – lead manager
• South Africa rand firmer as risk takers return, stocks up 3.29%
• Nigeria seeks $6.9 bln from lenders to fund coronavirus fight
• Norway considers attending OPEC meeting on April 9 – oil ministry
• South Africa sets aside $64 mln for small-scale farmers amid lockdown
• South Africa central bank sees up to -4% GDP over coronavirus fallout
• Ivory Coast police clash with protesters over coronavirus test centre
• Uganda slashes main interest rate to 8% as coronavirus hurts economy
• KFC owner witholds rent on South Africa stores amid lockdown – Bloomberg
• Kenya president halts movement in areas affected by the coronavirus
• Kenya – Safaricom, Vodacom finalise M-Pesa acquisition from UK’s Vodafone
• South Africa makes more spectrum available to meet internet demand
• Kenya shilling weakens as players beef up positions
• Congo mine attack kills three Chinese nationals – Xinhua
• South Africa Woolworths warns of likely 20% profit fall
• Saudi Arabia delays setting May prices, looks to OPEC meeting to settle price war

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