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

Global Markets

• Shares stabilise, try to shrug off US tech rout scare
• Ex-Japan Asia up 0.37%, Nikkei rises 0.4%
• S&P500 futures up 0.5%, Nasdaq futures down 0.1%
• US debt yields off lows
• Brent up 0.1% at $42.07

Oil Markets

• Oil mixed after dropping on demand concerns post-US holiday
• Brent up 0.1% at $42.07 a barrel (0221GMT)
• WTI down 1.6% at $39.13

Precious metals

• Gold subdued on strong dollar; ECB meeting in focus
• Spot gold down 0.2% at $1,925.68/oz. (0048GMT)
• US gold futures steady at $1,934.60/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans rise for 11^th session on strong Chinese demand, wheat eases
• Renewed fears of rain & flooding in China
• Soybean futures up 0.7% at $9.74-3/4 a bushel (0212GMT)
• Wheat down 0.1% at $5.49-1/2 a bushel
• Corn up 1.4% at $3.63

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

• South Africa GDP Q2-2020 [fcst. -20.0% qq saa, prev. -2.0% cons. -47.3%]
• Kenya Senate resumes plenary after 1-mth recess; revenue formula top on agenda
• Nigeria resident doctors go on strike
• AGRF virtual “Feed the Cities” summit in Kigali; 8-11 Sep
• South Africa SACCI business confidence Aug-20 [prev. 82.8]
• 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

• Egypt’s total recorded coronavirus cases hit 100,041 – Health ministry
• South Africa retailer Clicks’ stores face protests over ads seen as racist
• West Africa leaders say Mali junta must name a president by Sept. 15
• Libya oil units halt operations due to spread of virus
• Nigeria’s Buhari calls electricity price rise, petrol deregulation crucial decisions
• 3 Somalia special forces killed, US officer wounded in car bomb – Somali official
• Ivory Coast cocoa farmers say rainfall will boost main crop
• West Africa bloc chairman calls for Mali junta’s cooperation
• Ethiopia bars journalists from flying to Tigray regional vote – passengers
• Japan says it offered Mauritius “unprecedented” support, including financial
• South Africa consumer confidence improves in third quarter as lockdown eases
• As occupations gather pace, South Africa landowners fear for their property

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