By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asia stocks wary as coronavirus threatens economic reopening
- Asia ex-Japan eases off 4-mth top, S&P 500 futures steady
- Deaths from covid-19 reached half a million on Sunday
- Dollar, bonds supported on safe haven appeal
Oil Markets
- Oil falls in second straight session as virus cools demand
- Brent down 1.6% at $40.36 a barrel (2350GMT)
- WTI down 1.6% at $37.86
Precious metals
- Gold climbs as fears over surging virus cases boost demand
- Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,772.61/oz. (0015GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.3% at $1,785.90/oz.
Grains
- Corn rebounds from 6-wk low, bearish fundamentals cap gains
- Corn futures up 0.4% at $3.18-1/4 a bushel (0218GMT)
- Soybeans up 0.2% at $16.73-1/2 a bushel
- Wheat up 0.2% at $4.76-3/4 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- South Africa state capture inquiry resumes
- Electoral Commission Ghana press briefing on new voters register
- Key African countries on lockdown or restricted; subdued economic activity
- Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent
Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today
- Guinea-Bissau president sacks five ministers
- Sudan extends coronaviru lockdown in Khartoum state
- Sudan says it will rein in state firms, including those owned by security
- Egypt court jails belly dancer for ‘debauchery’ in social media crackdown
- Malawi’s Chakwera sworn in as president after re-run election
- Congo PM threatens govt resignation over minister’s arrest
- Sudan extends closure of Khartoum international airport by two weeks
- Congo’s justice minister released hours after arrest
- Egypt, Ethiopia & Sudan hope for Nile dam deal in weeks
- More than 90% of issues in Nile dam negotiations resolved, AU chief says
- Facing defeat, Malawi president says election re-run had irregularities
- Insurgents stage ‘very violent’ attack close to gas projects in Mozambique
- Ghana’s President Akufo-Addo choses by ruling party for poll rematch against Mahama
- Guinea-Bissau braces for rise in coronavirus cases, enlists Cuban medical help
- Tunisia reopens borders to tourists after halting spread of coronavirus
- Sudan, Egypt say Ethiopia will not fill Nile dam without reaching deal
- Morocco rejects Amnesty’s allegations on spying on journalist
- IMF board approves $5.2 bln, 12-mth loan program for Egypt
- Zimbabwe suspends stock exchange, mobile payments over ‘economic sabotage’
- Ivory Coast’s Air Cote d’Ivoire says propped up by $24 mln from govt
- East Congo ebola outbreak no longer an international emergency, says WHO
- South Afriac to reopen casinos and cinemas despite covid-19 spread
- UK Export Finance set to back Total’s $20 bln Mozambique LNG project – source
- MTN to challenge Ghana regulator’s move to reduce market dominance
- Ivory Coast flash floods kill at least seven, more rain expected
- Congo president wins approval for state mining company nominees
- South Africa’s Sasol to sell stakes in Mozambique pipeline, power plant – sources
- Nigeria needs to deepen reforms to boost growth, revenues – World Bank
- Ethiopia receives 12 bids for two telco licences – regulator
- Libya’a NOC says Russia mercenaries entered oilfield, with output blocked
- Congo aims to launch state cobalt monopoly in two mths, mines minister says
- Kenya Airways estimates coronavirus revenue loss at $100 mln – CEO
- Kenya central banker sees silver lining in economic gloom
- Uganda – Hit the brakes on reform, say Kampala’s transport workers
- Kenya cbank says current account gap could be narrower than forecast
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters