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

Global Markets

• Asian shares set to rise on broader US rally, dollar gains
• Wall Street climbs on defensive share gains
• ADP falls short of expecations
• Dollar edges away from 2-yr lows
• Brent down 2.5% at $44.43

Oil Markets

• Oil holds steady near multi-week lows on demand worries
• Brent down 0.2% at $44.36 a barrel (0115GMT)
• WTI up 0.1% at $41.54

Precious metals

• Gold steadies as dollar stalls, economic concerns persist
• Spot gold up 0.1% at $1,944.58/oz. (0059GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.3% at $1,950.60/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans gain for 9^th straight session on China demand
• Soybean futures up 0.2% at $9.63-1/2 a bushel (0129GMT)
• Corn down 0.3% at $3.57-3/4 a bushel
• Wheat little changed at $5.57-3/4 a bushel

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

• South Africa’s Mabuza answers questions in parliament
• Kenya transport CS Macharia answers questions on Covid-19 funds in parliament
• South Africa Standard Bank PMI Aug-20 [prev. 44.9]
• Nigeria Stanbic IBTC Bank PMI Aug-20 [prev. 50.4]
• Kenya, Ghana & other Africa Aug-20 PMIs due
• Nigeria raises prices of petroleum products
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent

Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today

• South Africa power cuts worsen on cold weather, breakdowns
• South Africa ready to help insurgency-hit Mozambique, if asked
• Seven killed in suicide bomb attack in northern Cameroon village
• US to cut $100 mln in aid to Ethiopia over dam dispute
• Elderly Guinea president confirms 3^rd term bid, vows to represent young people
• Nigeria’s gasoline price to hit record in naira terms in Sept – PPMC circular
• UN warns of Libya arms build-up and virus surge
• Uganda says it has rare gorilla ‘baby boom’ in park in country’s southwest
• Turkey backs Libya ceasefire but doubtful after Haftar’s rebuff
• Zimbabwe finds more elephant carcasses, death toll at 22
• Bad weather, Covid-19 leave over 2.6 mln Malawians short of food
• Switzerland froze $900 mln from Angola businessman – documents
• Zimbabwe protest organiser, journalist freed on bail, banned from posting on Twitter
• ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero’s family calls for an international trial
• South Africa’s $30 bln Covid-19 relief package exposed to fraud – auditor general
• South Africa’s Eskom to ramp up power cuts
• Russia to propose OPEC+ react to oil demand recovery – Novak
• Ousted Mali president in hospital for checks, says source close to family
• Nigeria says can tap mineral wealth despite Covid, unrest
• South Africa’s Eskom says gross debt rose to $29.3 bln as of March

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