By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Gold hits record high as US-China ties worsen, Asia stocks helped by tech
- Asia tech shares gain as Intel delays new chips
- Earnings, US stimulus talks in focus
- Gold rose 1% to record high of $1,920.9/oz.
- Oil down on worsening Sino-US relations
- Brent down 0.5% at $43.14, WTI down 0.44% at $41.11
Oil Markets
- Oil slips as rising virus cases, US-China tensions weigh on markets
- Brent set to post 4th monthly gain in July
- Brent down 0.3% at $43.20 a barrel (0242GMT)
- WTI down 0.2% at $41.19
Precious metals
- Gold soars to all-time high as dollar dive adds fuel to record run
- Silver notches up fresh 7-yr peak
- Spot gold up 1.5% at $1,928.83/oz. (0306GMT)
- US gold futures up 1.4% at $1,924.20/oz.
Grains
- Soybeans drop for second session on US-China tension, wheat falls
- Soybean futures down 0.2% at $8.97-1/2 a bushel (0323GMT)
- Wheat down 0.7% at $5.35-3/4 a bushel
- Corn down 0.3% at $3.34 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- ECOWAS leaders meet virtually on Mali; follow-up to their trip to Bamako last week
- Bank of Ghana decides interest rates [fcst. 14.5%, prev. 14.5%]
- Kenya’s Kenyatta meets county governors on covid-19 response
- Electoral Commission of Ghana press briefing on ongoing voter registration
- Ghana’s NDC flagbearer Mahama formally “outdoors” running mate Opoku-Agyemang
- 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 over the weekend & early a.m today
- Some 120 said to be killed or wounded in attack in Sudan’s Darfur region – UN
- Morocco shuts down major cities after spike in coronavirus cases
- Kenya arrests two police after ‘shooting incident’, launches enquiry
- South Africa extends covid-19 loans for struggling businesses
- Rwanda refugee put under formal investigation for Nantes Cathedral fire – Le Monde
- Tunisia president designates new PM amid hopes of ending political crisis
- Somalia’s parliament ousts prime minister in no-confidence vote
- Deposed CAR leader announces presidential bid
- South Africa police nab 63 prisoners from mass escape
- Senegal strengthens coronavirus testing for travellers
- Zimbabwe court rules journalist danger to public, extends detention
- Morocco fertiliser group OCP could quit US if duty imposed, sources say
- Botswana rape survivor fights sexual violence with awareness campaign
- MTN Uganda stake sale to be restricted to East Africans – regulator
- 15 Zambia lawmakers, 11 parliamentary staff contract covid-19
- South Africa’s Pepkor Q3 sales drop 17% on lockdown hit
- Tanzania former president Mkapa, regional peacemaker dies
- South Africa’s MTN buoyed by expected leap in first-half earnings
- Libyans face painful power cuts as years of chaos hit grid
- Kenya recycling firm mixes kitchen waste to boost urban farming
- Kenya covid-19 hospital gears up for surge in new infections
- South Africa’s Woolworths sees annual sales dip as covid-19 hits
- South Africa’s MTN expects at least 100% jump in first-half earnings
- Prominent South Sudan critic says govt sent hit squad for him; Juba denies
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters