By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asia shares climb as China blue chips hit 5-yr peak
- Asia ex-Japan stocks highest since Feb, led by China
- Some US states delay reopenings as pandemic rages
- Major currencies range-bound, gold near highs
Oil Markets
- Oil prices mixed as coronavirus spike casts shadow over US demand
- Brent up 0.3% at $42.91 a barrel (0109GMT)
- WTI down 0.7% at $40.35
Precious metals
- Gold slips as risk appetite improves, viurs surge caps losses
- Spot gold down 0.1% at $1,773.49/oz. (0306GMT)
- US gold futures down 0.4% at $1,782.30/oz.
Grains
- Soybeans hit 4-mth high on hot, dry US weather threat
- Soybean futures up 1% at $9.06-1/4 a bushel (0142GMT)
- Corn up 1.6% at $3.59 a bushel
- Wheat up 0.8% at $4.95-3/4 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- Kenya’s Kenyatta speech expected; new covid-19 measures & cabinet reshuffle likely
- Malawi independence day
- South Africa state capture inquiry resumes
- 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
- Egypt’s private economic activity ebbs at slower rate in June – PMI
- Morocco economy to contract 13.8% in Q2, 4.6% in Q3 – planning agency
- Tunisia Ennahdha party to review stance on govt
- Uneasy calm in Ethiopia after protests, official death toll doubles
- Sudan fires top police officials after protests
- South Africa’s Sasol gives up licence to seek offshore gas in Mozambique
- Keep SMB’s Congo coltan mine in supply chains, says mineral tracker
- Congo mines minister to meet with firms on confinement moratorium
- Egypt sets date for senate election in August; 11-12 Aug
- Jets hit Libya’s al-Watiya airbase where Turkey may build base, sources say
- Ghana’s president self-isolates after close person tests positive for coronavirus
- Malawi’s election cheer dampened by coronavirus surge
- Ugandan dies after setting fire to himself over motorcycle impounded over covid-19
- Suicide car bomber hits checkpoint at Somalia’s Mogadishu port
- Nigeria debt rose to 28.62 trln naira as of March – debt office
- Cameroon holds first peace talks with main seperatist insurgents
- Nigeria weakens naira at retail FX auction in a move to align rates
- Nigeria central bank to sell to retail clients at 5% above official rate – traders
- Botswana top vet defends investigations into unexplained elephant deaths
- South Africa’s Tsogo Sun to buy additional shares in Hospitality Property Fund
- Suspected militant ambush in Mali kills seven soldiers
- Land Bank default forces South Africa central bank into $200 mln bailout of state investment arm
- Morocco’s RAM to axe routes, may reduce fleet to secure aid
- South Africa to investigate scrap metal shortage hurting industry
- Angola resists OPEC pressure to comply fully with oil cuts – sources
- South Africa’s Capitec Bank expects 70% plunge in H1 profit due to bad loans
- South Africa’s Old Mutual makes acting CEO permanent, a year after sacking predecessor
- Zimbabwe’s Landela agrees to buy state-owned gold mines, seeks more assets
- Djibouti ramps up efforts to get seafarers stranded by coronavirus off ships
- Angola app gives performers a lifeline – streaming to paying public
- ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement stirs Ghana artist in covid limbo
- Italy prosecutor says Eni, Shell aware of bribes in Nigeria case
- Russia to reopen embassy in Libya – Ifax cites foreign minister
- Kenya shilling weakens due to manufacturing sector demand
- Ghana minister resigns after breaching coronavirus measures
- Vedanta’s Zambia copper unit warns part of Nchanga open-pit mine about to collapse
- South Africa’s National Treasury says “no further action” to bailout SAA airline
- Kenya private sector activity up in June, outlook gloomy – PMI
- Deterioration in South Africa factory activity slows in June as lockdown eases – PMI
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters
