By Rafiq Raji, PhD
Twitter: @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica
Global Markets
- Asian stocks head higher on China data, markets eye Fed meeting
- MSCI ex-Japan index rises, most Asian markets in green
- Central bank meetings dominate week’s agenda
- Brent down 0.1% at $39.58, WTI down 0.1% at $37.24
Oil Markets
- Oil inches lower as bleaker demand outlook weighs
- Brent down 0.1% at $39.58 a barrel (0102GMT)
- WTI down 0.1% at $37.24
Precious metals
- Gold rises on softer dollar, investors focus on Fed meet
- Spot gold up 0.3% at $1,962.78/oz. (0259GMT)
- US gold futures up 0.5% at $1,972.60/oz.
Grains
- Soybeans near 2-yr high on Chinese demand, US crop woes
- Soybean futures up 0.4% at $10.03 a bushel (0248GMT)
- Corn down 0.3% at $3.68-1/2 a bushel
- Wheat up 0.1% at $5.46-1/4 a bushel
Key African events or data releases today
[Posts & comments at my Twitter handles @DrRafiqRaji, @macroafrica]
- ECOWAS leaders meet on Mali in Aburi, Ghana
- South Africa’s Ramaphosa presides over meetings of councils on the economy (NEDLAC) & covid-19 response (PCC)
- South Africa business confidence Aug-20 [prev. 82.8]
- South Africa’s SARB MPC meets on rates; 15-17 Sep [fcst. 3.5%, prev. 3.5%]
- Nigeria inflation Aug-20 [fcst. 12.8% yy, prev. 12.8%]
- Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent
Key African events or data releases yesterday & early a.m today
- Canada’s First Quantum eyes operations expansion at Zambia mine
- Ivory Coast council approves President Ouattara for third term
- US slaps more election-related visa restrictions on Nigerians
- ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero declines to plead to terrorism charges
- Egypt real estate firms’ profit hit by coronavirus crisis
- Protest erupt in Ivory Coast against Ouattara’s third term bid
- Nigeria reels from twin crisis that threaten food availability
- OPEC+ Sept meeting unlikely to advocate deeper oil output cuts – sources
- Egypt to allow wedding ceremonies, cultural events in open-air venues
- Iran says it supports OPEC as long as its interests are protected
- AngloGold Ashanti says South Africa gives “unconditional” approval for asset sale to Harmony
- Ten Tanzanian school children killed in dormitory fire
- Morocco medics protest over conditions, staff shortages as pandemic surges
- Ivory Coast rains boost cocoa main crop
- Coronavirus prompts major pre-emptive Egypt wheat buying spree
- Vodafone says STC ‘substantively’ completed due diligence on Egypt unit stake sale
N.B. Full stories of above headlines are available on Reuters