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