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

Global Markets

• Asia stocks up as China PMI, US data cheer markets worried over coronavirus surge
• Equities see positives in economic data
• Hong Kong shares not phased by China security bill
• Coronavirus surge remains a risk to markets

Oil Markets

• Oil prices slip as weak Japan data exposes market jitters over fragile demand
• Brent down 0.8% at $41.53 a barrel (0038GMT)
• WTI down 1% at $39.32

Precious metals

• Gold poised for best quarter in four years as virus fears persist
• Spot gold steady at $1,771.30/oz. (0306GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.2% at $1,783.80/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans edge higher ahead of USDA report
• Soybean futures up 0.3% at $8.69 a bushel (0101GMT)
• Corn down 0.2% at $3.25-1/4 a bushel
• Wheat down 0.5% at $4.84 a bushel

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

• Electoral Commission Ghana starts voter re-registration exercise
• EU leaders meet G5 Sahel heads of state in Mauritania
• Nigeria’s Buhari flags off section of Trans-Nigeria gas pipeline
• Kenya & Uganda publish June inflation data
• South Africa’s central bank publishes money & credit statistics
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• 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

• Nigeria’s slave descendants hope race protests help end discrimination
• Congo president vows not to accept judicial reforms that cause ‘harm’
• Senegal lifts covid-19 state of emergency to protect economy
• Macron slams Turkey’s ‘criminal’ role in Libya, Putin’s ambivalence
• Saudi crown prince, Nigerian president discuss OPEC+ deal compliance
• South Africa court sides with Eskom in clawback dispute
• Libya’s NOC confirms international talks on resuming oil output
• South Africa’s Naspers posts 4.5% fall in full-year profit
• South Africa’s MTN allows customers to pay for online shopping using mobile money
• Algeria annual inflation rises in May
• Four aid workers say militants abducted them in northeast Nigeria
• Nigeria to ease covid-19 curbs on inter-state travel and students
• Matonge, An African home in Brussels
• Nigeria to allow travel between states outside curfew hours from July 1
• Lesotho’s former first lady granted bail in murder case
• Libya tribal leaders says oil output to resume
• Uganda power distributor Umeme to invest $83 mln to boost network
• “On our knees”: Kenya tourism revenue collapses
• Malawi names former insurance executive as finance minister
• Kenya shilling holds steady against the dollar
• Burundi’s new cabinet includes two under Western sanctions over rights abuses
• Kenya loses 80 bln shillings in tourism revenue due to coronavirus
• Libya’s NOC confirms international talks on resuming oil output
• Potato diplomacy as Malta seeks new era of Namibia relations
• West Africa instability risks gains against militants – French official
• South Africa firm aims to plug covid-19 test kits shortage as virus spreads
• France warns political uncertainty in Mali, Burkina risks recent progress
• Uganda shilling a touch stronger as charity flows offer support
• Spain says PM off to Africa, EU’s list of safe nations ready soon

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