By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asian stocks edge up after strong China manufacturing survey
- Dollar hits 2-yr trough as Fed commits to easy policy
- Despite stock pullback, S&P posts best August since 1986
- Brent up 0.6% at $45.55/barrel
- Gold up 0.6% at $1,980/oz.
Oil Markets
- Oil prices rise on falling US dollar
- Brent up 1.1% at $45.77 a barrel (0406GMT)
- WTI up 0.9% at $42.98
Precious metals
- Gold rises to 2-wk high as dollar stumbles
- Spot gold up 0.7% at $1,983.77/oz. (0041GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.6% at $1,990/oz.
Grains
- Corn drops 1% on US crop report, soybeans ease after rally
- Corn futures down 0.8% at $3.55 a bushel (0335GMT)
- Soybeans down 0.1% at $9.53 a bushel
- Wheat up 0.2% at $5.53-1/2 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- Ghana resumes international flights
- AfDB chief Adesina takes oath of office for 2nd term
- South Africa ABSA manufacturing PMI Aug-20 [prev. 51.2]
- Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
- Guinea’s Conde accepts nomination to seek third term
- Algeria approves more measures to ease coronavirus lockdown
- Sudan signs peace deal with key rebel groups, some hold out
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa seeks to stamp authority on ANC after corruption scandals
- Zimbabwe says foreign white farmers can apply to get back seized land
- Niger floods kill 51, drive thousands from their homes
- Nigeria sets capital rules for mobile money licences
- South Africa’s ruling party says officials charged with corruption must step aside
- US, UK, Norway, welcome peace agreement in Sudan
- ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero arrested on terrorism charges
- Ivory Coast rain sufficient for developing cocoa pods, say farmers
- Zimbabwe tobacco sales down 23.5% after poor rains
- South Africa’s Sasol Lake Charles plant remains shut following Hurricane Laura
- South Africa’s RCL Foods points to recovery after annual loss
- Sudan signs historic peace deal with five rebel groups
- With borders closed, South Africa pins hopes on cash-strapped local tourists
- AngloGold Ashanti, Barrick Gold to sell ‘Morila the gorilla’ stakes
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters