The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect South African markets on Wednesday.
ECONOMIC EVENTS
- Statistics SA publishes February inflation figures. 0800 GMT
- Statistics SA publishes February retail sales figures. 1100 GMT
COMPANIES
- Full Year 2018 Kaydav Group KDVJ.J Earnings Release.
- Full Year 2018 Master Drilling Group MDIJ.J Earnings Release.
SOUTH AFRICAN MARKETS
South Africa's rand steadied on Tuesday as the prospect of rolling blackouts and downbeat economic data offset expectations that a dovish tone at this week's U.S. Federal Reserve policy meeting could lift emerging market assets.
Stocks meanwhile rose, with the Johannesburg All-Share index .JALSH up 0.14 percent to 56,849 points, while the Top-40 Index .JTOPI firmed 0.17 percent to 50,475 points. .J ZAR/
GLOBAL MARKETS
Asian shares slipped from six-month highs on Wednesday as investors took profits ahead of a policy decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve which is expected to shed more light on its interest rate plans for the rest of the year. MKTS/GLOB
WALL STREET
the benchmark S&P 500 index ended little changed on Tuesday as investor optimism regarding the Federal Reserve's expected affirmation of its dovish policy stance was offset by reports of fault lines emerging in ongoing U.S.-China trade negotiations. .N
GOLD XAU=
Gold prices dipped on Wednesday, after posting gains in the previous three sessions, as the dollar gained ground ahead of an interest rate decision by the U.S. Federal later in the day. GOL/
EMERGING MARKETS
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Some of the main stories out in the South African press:
BUSINESS DAY
- Steinhoff SNHJ.J fingers eight executives 100 billion rand in fraud.
- Metal workers union NUM backtracks on plans for national shutdown over Eskom.
BUSINESS REPORT
- Eskom to bypass procurement regulations to tackle operations crisis.