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

Global Markets

• US markets closed for July 4 holiday
• Asia shares hit 4-mth high as US, China recoveries gather pace
• Shanghai shares hit 14-mth high on service sector recovery
• US payrolls jump 4.8 mln but hurdles lie ahead
• Rising US covid-19 cases threaten US recovery

Oil Markets

• Oil falls as growing coronavirus cases stoke fuel demand worries
• Brent down 0.9% at $42.77 a barrel (0042GMT)
• WTI down 0.8% at $40.31

Precious metals

• Gold steadies in tight range as virus fears offset solid US jobs data
• Spot gold unchanged at $1,775.12/oz. (0232GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.1% at $1,787.80/oz.

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

• South Africa’s Ramaphosa visits Mpumalanga to assess province’s covid-19 response
• Kenya roadmap on reopening worship centres expected; Kenyatta covid-19 measures speech expected on Monday [Or during weekend; cabinet reshuffle could be announced]
• Electoral Commission Ghana voter re-registration continues
• 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

• US welcomes independent probe of report that cleared African Development Bank chief
• Mining magnate Gertler denies skirting US sanctions in Congo
• Attackers on motorbikes kill 32 Mali villagers, local officials say
• Small homemade bomb explodes in Cameroon capital, official says
• South Africa to keep 20,000 soldiers on covid-19 duty until September
• Botswana investigating mystery deaths of at least 275 elephants
• Portugal to take then selll majority stake in Efacec firm of Angola’s dos Santos
• Lockdown ends in Nigeria’s Kano, where coronavirus killed hundreds
• Namibia considering options for struggling national flag carrier – finmin
• South Africa telecoms regulator moves to finalise spectrum licensing
• Slain Ethiopia singer electrified a generation with songs of freedom and protest
• Sierra Leone doctors’ strike leaves covid-19 patients stranded
• Pump or dump? With oil in decline, Africa ponders its energy future
• Two killed in clashes as mourners struggle to get into Ethiopia singer’s funeral
• South Africa man dragged naked from shack sparks legal action against evictions
• Six hurt in scuffles with security forces at Ethiopia singer’s funeral
• South Africa rand firmer as currnet account surplus adds to global risk boost
• OPEC basket oil price rises above $40 for first time in 4 months
• South Africa’s SAA administrators aim to publish revised plan on July 7
• Canadian arrested in Egypt early in 2019 returns home after release, needs medical treatment
• Pirates kidnap nine in attack on vessel off Nigeria, says ship owner
• South Africa refinery explosion kills two, injures seven
• Pandemic costs Africa travel, tourism almost $55 bln
• Kenya shilling seen on back foot, Tanzania’s firming; in week ahead
• Africa does not have manifold undetected coronavirus infections – WHO
• As pandemic spreads, Congo poet warns in music video of ‘empty cooking pots’
• South Africa – CMA CGM drops port congestion surcharge for Cape Town
• Angola resists OPEC pressure to comply fully with oil cuts – sources
• Eight years after bombing, Somalia reopens national theatre
• Kenya shilling holds steady against the dollar
• South Africa records first current account surplus in 17 years
• Explosion at Astron Energy’s South Africa refinery kills at least 2 – source
• World food price index rises in June, first increase in 2020 – UN
• How to rid East Africa of locusts? Serve them in a kebab or drive them to cannibalism

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