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

Global Markets

• Global shares extend gains on US stimulus, upbeat data
• S&P 500 up 0.6% in Asia
• MSCI Asia ex-Japan up 0.3%
• Australia shares up 1.4%

Oil Markets

• Oil holds steady on hopes for US stimulus agreement
• Brent up 3 cents at $42.33 a barrel (0146GMT)
• WTI down 1 cent at $40.21

Precious metals

• Gold firms on dollar slide, US stimulus hopes
• Spot gold up 0.3% at $1,891.10/oz. (0334GMT)
• US gold futures up 0.1% at $1,897.30/oz.

Grains

• Corn gains, lingers near 7-mth high on USDA stockpile estimates
• Corn futures up 0.4% at $3.80-1/2 a bushel (0119GMT)
• Soybeans up 0.8% at $10.31-3/4 a bushel
• Wheat up 0.6% at $5.81-1/4 a bushel

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

• Nigeria independence day; Buhari addresses nation, some protest actions possible
• South Africa opens borders; travellers from high-risk countries UK, US, France, etc. still barred
• Kenya’s Kenyatta meets France’s Macron in Paris; signs PPP infrastructure deals
• South Africa ABSA manufacturing PMI Sep-20 [prev. 57.3]
• South Africa state capture inquiry continues
• Covid-19 updates by authorities across the continent

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

• Bank of Central African states says regional GDP to shrink 3.1%
• South Africa to launch long-awaited tender for mobile broadband spectrum
• Congo ‘jobs-for-sex’ expose prompts calls for greater scrutiny of aid workers
• Namibia fishing auction for Covid-19 cash flops
• Proposal to ease Malawi’s strict abortion laws faces religious opposition
• South Africa invites applications for broadband spectrum bidding
• South Africa says tourists from high-risk countries still barred from Oct. 1
• Flooding devastates farms in parts of Sudan – UN
• Sierra Leone anti-graft body summons ex-president Koroma for questioning
• OPEC Sept oil output rises for 3^rd month on Libya restart, Iran
• Nigeria’s cabinet proposes 3% economic growth target for 2021 budget
• Rwanda genocide suspect Kabuga can be sent to UN court
• Libya rivals agree to further military talks, UN says
• Rwanda genocide suspect can be extradited to UN tribunal, France court says
• Poorest countries face tough choice over G20 debt relief plan
• Kenya’s economy likely to expand by 3.1% this year – central bank
• Hackers hit South Africa govt fund for children and missing people
• Pandemic pushes forward new generation of Africa cyclists
• ‘God chose me’: Congo ebola survivor finds new purpose
• Nigeria’s pioneering gas flaring plan risks going down in flames
• South Africa’s Capitec interim profit plunges 78%

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