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

Global Markets

• Asia stocks set to slip on coronavirus fears, vaccine timing
• Hong Kong Hang Seng up 0.37%
• Australia S&P/ASX down 1.26%
• Japan Nikkei down 0.05%

Oil Markets

• Oil falls amid concerns about new viral outbreaks, rise in inventories
• Brent down 1.6% at $29.49 a barrel (0034GMT)
• WTI down 1.6% at $25.37

Precious metals

• Gold gains as virus resurgence fears dampen risk
• Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,704.23/oz. (0030GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.1% at $1,708.10/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans fall to 5-day low, strong Chinese demand cuts losses
• Soybean futures down 0.2% at $8.50-3/4 a bushel (0111GMT)
• Corn down 0.5% at $3.20-3/4 a bushel
• Wheat down 0.7% at $5.11 a bushel

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

• Nigeria’s Buhari chief of staff pick awaited [Former UN scribe Gambari touted but yet to be officially confirmed]
• Nigeria’s Buhari cabinet holds first virtual meeting
• Lesotho PM Thabane expected to resign today
• Key African countries on lockdown or restricted; subdued economic activity
• Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent

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

• Saudi cabinet urges OPEC+ countries to further reduce production – SPA
• Lesotho PM Thabane says he will resign on Wednesday – report
• Angola dos Santos wants graft case dropped, cites documents she calls forged
• Mozambique court declares void two loans in ‘hidden debt’ scandal
• Bank of Central African States denies CFA franc devaluation rumours
• Tunisia to double external funding to 5 bln euros this year – PM
• Africa Oil – India refiners set to mop up some cargoes
• South Africa rand rises on US-China trade truce hopes
• Ghana fish factory partially reopens after swell of coronavirus cases
• Egypt receives $2.77 bln in IMF emergency financing – state news agency
• IMF chief says growth forecast cuts ‘very likely’ as coronavirus hits economies
• Violence in northwest Nigeria drives 23,000 into Niger – UNHCR
• South Africa firms get 5 years to repay coronavirus support loans
• “Madness” to hold Uganda vote if virus persists – Museveni
• Algeria extends coronavirus restrictions by 15 days
• South Africa Shoprite sees surging demand for DIY hair and beauty products
• South Africa publishes proposed mine safety rules for covid-19
• Ethiopia only ventilator expert races to train others as virus spreads
• Zambia shuts Tanzania border to fight covid-19, delaying copper exports
• IMF raises Kenya risk of debt distress to high from moderate
• South Africa strips Land Bank debt of high quality asset status
• Tanzania central bank lowers reserve requirements due to coroanvirus
• Uganda shilling holds steady against the dollar
• South Africa Sibanye Stillwater first-quarter earnings surge on strong metal prices
• South Africa Tongaat, Barloworld in deadlock over starch business deal

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