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

Global Markets

• Asia defies Wall Street weakness but economy, election worries cap gains
• MSCI ex-Japan up 0.2%, Nikkei 0.1% higher
• S&P down 0.2%, Nasdaq up 0.07%
• Brent last 0.2% firmer at $43.39

Oil Markets

• Oil eases as US production returns after storm
• Brent down 6 cents at $43.24 a barrel (0112GMT)
• WTI down 6 cents at $40.91

Precious metals

• Gold firms on economic worries, stimulus hopes
• Spot gold up 0.5% at $1,951.32/oz. (0348GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.5% at $1,959/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans set for sixth weekly gain as China steps up purchases
• Soybean futures up more than 4% this week, set for more than 20% rally in 6 weeks
• Corn up nearly 3% this week
• Wheat up close to 4% in the week

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

• South Africa ministerial briefings on ease of Covid-19 restrictions expected
• South Africa SACCI business confidence Aug-20 [prev. 82.8]
• Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent

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

• Burundi impunity for abuses continues, says UN report, as another mass grave opened
• Suspected arms dealers moved millions in Somalia money transfers, report says
• Somalia’s president names Mohamed Hussein Roble as prime minister
• Convoy ambush in eastern Congo kills one aid worker
• Militant groupu claims killing of France aid workers in Niger
• More than 30 killed in militia attacks in western Ethiopia
• Head of Libya’s Tripoli govt says he wants to quit
• ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero denied bail during terror trial
• Ivory Coast ex-PM, barred from standing for president, says Ouattara must be blocked
• Uganda reverses forest destruction by inviting in…loggers
• Algeria referendum looms as test for president and opposition
• Uganda says 219 prisoners escape, some with guns and ammunition
• 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

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