Compared to the same month of the previous year, the price of a barrel is down 30.3%, after a decline of 22.5% recorded in August 2020. According to the BCEAO, the prices of raw materials exported by the countries of the Union have experienced contrasting developments during the month under review.

World prices for gold, cotton, coffee and cocoa rose year-on-year by 30.8%, 7.3%, 2.6% and 2.6% respectively in September 2020. On the other hand, declines were observed in cashew nuts (-47.3%) and rubber (-8.5%).

"Stock market indices also recorded contrasting developments during the month of September 2020. Indeed, over one year, the FOOTSIE 100 (-20.8%), the CAC 40 (-15.4%) and the EuroStoxx 50 (-9.1%) were down, while increases were noted for the Nasdaq Composite (+39.6%) and the Standard&Poor's 500 (+13.0%).

On the foreign exchange market, the European currency appreciated over one year against the US dollar (+7.5%), the Japanese yen (+5.2%), the pound sterling (+3.0%) and the yuan (+2.5%)," reveals the Bceao. It adds that monetary policy in most jurisdictions has remained accommandant in support of economic stimulus.

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