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

Global Markets

• Asia shares fall after Trump takes aim at China tech firms
• Trump’s ban on top China tech firms sours mood
• MSCI ex-Japan Asia down 1%, Tencent falls 9%
• Hopes of US stimulus bolster shares despite lack of progress
• Brent down 0.1% at $45.04

Oil Markets

• Oil prices slip on uncertainty over US recovery, stimulus
• Brent down 6 cents at $45.03 a barrel (0246GMT)
• WTI down 2 cents at $41.93

Precious metals

• Gold hits new record high, on track for ninth weekly rise
• Spot gold up 0.3% at $2,068.32/oz. (0035GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.5% at $2,078.70/oz.

Grains

• Wheat faces biggest weekly drop in 1 year, corn down for 5^th week
• Wheat down more than 5% this week
• Corn down more than 1% this week
• Soybeans down more than 1.7% for the week

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

• 3^rd term bids by Ivory Coast’s Ouattara & Guinea’s Conde to be in focus; after official declarations on Thursday
• Gambia declares state of emergency on Covid-19
• South Africa Fx reservers Jul-20 [prev. $52.32B]
• 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

• Africa’s cases of Covid-19 top 1 million – Reuters tally
• Ivory Coast President Ouattara says he will run for third term
• Zimbabwe again denies bail to journalist in protest case, govt denies crisis
• Around 40 migrants down in shipwreck off Mauritanian coast
• Egypt & Greece sign agreement on exclusive economic zone
• Nigeria to reopen for international air travel in weeks
• Guinea’s ruling party nominates President Conde for third term
• Afreximbank commits $400 mln to Mozambique LNG project
• South Africa regulator working to clarify companies rights in pandemic insurance claims
• South Africa’s Ramaphosa sets up body to probe Covid-19 corruption
• Turkey says Egypt-Greece deal falls in its continental shelf
• Container ships sent to Tripoli to keep Lebanon supply lines running
• US imposes Libya-related sanctions on individuals, company
• Mauritania names new PM after previous cabinet resigns amid corruption probe
• Egypt’s Suez Canal revenues up 4.7% in last 5 years – chairman
• South Africa’s MTN to exit Middle East to focus on Africa
• 10 countries account for 80% of Africa Covid-19 testing – Africa CDC
• Ivory Coast police fire teargas at supporters of former president
• Weather alerts at risk as Kenya’s radio stations struggle amid virus downturn
• South Africa animal rights group asks court to ban live sheep shipments by Kuwait firm
• South Africa’s funeral parlours turn to makeshift mortuaries as virus deaths rise
• Nigeria startup helps local churches digitize operations

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