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

Global Markets

• Asian shares open weaker after Fed
• Nikkei flat, Hang Seng down 0.15%
• BoJ keeps policy steady
• Brent down 0.8% at $41.86
• Gold down 1.1% at $1,938.12

Oil Markets

• Oil falls as demand worries re-emerge, crews return to US Gulf rigs
• Brent down 0.8% at $41.86 a barrel (0355GMT)
• WTI down 1.1% at $39.73

Precious metals

• Gold drops 1% as dollar rises after Fed’s upbeat economic view
• Spot gold down 1.1% at $1,938.12/oz. (0321GMT)
• US gold futures down 1% at $1,951.30/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans hit over 27-mth high on Chinese demand
• Soybean futures up 0.6% at $10.17-1/2 a bushel (0134GMT)
• Corn down 0.1% at $3.71-1/2 a bushel
• Wheat down 0.1% at $5.41-1/2 a bushel

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

• South Africa’s SARB decides on interest rates [fcst. 3.5%, prev. 3.5%]
• Kenya counties shut down over revenue allocation standoff
• South Africa ministerial briefings on ease of Covid-19 restrictions expected
• Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent

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

• Ghana’s economy contracts for the first time in 37 years
• Head of Libya’s Tripoli govt says he wants to quit
• Egypt cuts highways across pyramids plateau, alarming conservationists
• South Sudan president replaces finance minister, state TV reports
• Covid-19 graft scandals fuel South Africans’ anger with ruling ANC
• South Africa to open up for international travel from Oct.1, says President
• Kenya county govts shut down services in dispute over revenue-sharing scheme
• Mali junta moves toward selecting interim president after embargo threat
• ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero could face maximum life in prison, prosecution says
• West Africa bloc fails to reach agreement with Mali junta
• More than 50 prisoners starve to death in east Congo prison
• South Africa’s Discovery reports 94% drop in full-year profit
• Mozambique army condemns ‘horrifying’ shooting of naked woman at hands of fighters
• Algeria upholds conviction of journalist; rights group fear new crackdown
• UN chief to appoint special envoy to broker peace in Libya

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