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 2^nd 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