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

Global Markets

• Asian shares cling to tight ranges as attention shifts to US election, stimulus
• MSCI ex-Japan down 0.1%, China blue-chips down 0.3%
• Brent down 1 cent at $41.1
• Spot gold slightly lower at $1,951.3

Oil Markets

• Oil prices steady as third storm in month takes aims at US
• Brent up 0.2% at $43.24 a barrel (0230GMT)
• WTI up 0.2% at $42.21

Precious metals

• Gold prices firm as tepid dollar lends support
• Spot gold up 0.2% at $1,953.37/oz. (0334GMT)
• US gold futures down 0.1% at $1,960.50/oz.

Grains

• Soybeans ease from 28-mth high, Chinese demand curbs losses
• Soybean futures down 0.1% at $10.42 a bushel (0258GMT)
• Corn down 0.4% at $3.77 a bushel
• Wheat unmoved at $5.75 a bushel

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

• Ghana’s Akufo-Addo visits Nigeria; 20-22 Sep
• Uganda eases Covid-19 restrictions, allows in tourists
• Nigeria’s central bank decides interest rates; 21-22 Sep [fcst. 12.5%, prev. 12.5%]
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent

Key African events or data releases over the weekend & early a.m today

• World leaders to mark United Nations at 75 as pandemic challenges organization
• Sudan to discuss removal from US terrorism list in UAE
• Covid-19 graft scandals fuel South Africans’ anger with ruling ANC
• Banks agree $545 mln for Congo Republic economy
• Libya’s NOC lifts force majeure on oil, except where fighters remain
• Morocco orders Covid-19 vaccine as cases approach 100,000
• Former execs of South Africa’s Comair to buy out firm in restructuring
• South Africa commits $650 mln to airline SAA, adminstrator says
• Turkey upset by Sarraj’s plan to step down in Libya – Erdogan
• With tourists slow to return, Egypt’s resorts and ancient sites face tough winter
• Three women in final five for WTO leadership race
• Libya’s Haftar says he will lift oil blockade
• Dutch court freezes stake in Angola’s former first family oil feud
• Somalia president names newcomer Roble premier as elections loom
• Japan sending team to probe Mauritius ship grounding
• Ivory Coast opposition calls for protests to stop Ouattara’s third term bid
• Ethiopia files terrorism charges against leading opposition activist
• ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero says he was duped into coming to Rwanda, NYT reports
• Convoy ambush in eastern Congo kills one aid worker
• Ivory Coast ex-PM, barred from standing for president, says Ouattara must be blocked
• Burundi impunity for abuses continues, says UN report, as another mass grave opened
• Militant group claims killing of France aid workers in Niger
• More than 30 killed in militia attacks in western Ethiopia
• Suspected arms dealers moved millions in Somalia money transfers, report says
• ‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero denied bail during terror trial

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