However, compared to the same month of the previous year, adds the BCEAO, the price of a barrel is down 22.5%, after a 30.6% fall observed in July 2020. Prices of most raw materials exported by EU countries have also fallen compared to last year's level

The largest declines were observed in cashew nuts (-44.6%), rubber (-15.2%), coffee (-7.0%) and cocoa (-5.5%). On the other hand, global gold and cotton prices rose, year-on-year, by 26.9% and 5.9% respectively in

With regard to stock market indices, the BCEAO points out that they recorded contrasting developments during the month of August 2020.

Indeed, on an annual basis, the FOOTSIE 100 (-17.3%), the CAC 40 (-9.7%) and the EuroStoxx 50 (-4.5%) fell, while increases were noted for the Nasdaq Composite (+53.1%) and the Standard & Poor's 500 (+19.6%).

On the foreign exchange market, the European currency appreciated over one year against the American dollar (+8.2%), the Japanese yen (+7.8%) and the yuan (+3.6%). On the other hand, it depreciated against the pound sterling (-1.1%

Monetary policy in most jurisdictions has remained accommodative in support of economic stimulus measures.

Indeed, the main central banks of developed countries kept their key rates unchanged during the month of August 2020, after the cuts printed in the previous months in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In emerging economies, the Bank of Brazil lowered its policy rate by 25 basis points to 2.0% from 2.250% previously.