African Markets - Factors to watch on Feb 23

NAIROBI, Feb 23 (Reuters) - The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Thursday. - - - - - GLOBAL MARKETS Asian stock markets were pinned near seven-week lows on Thursday while the dollar stood at multi-week peaks, as a run of strong economic data had investors worrying interest rates will need to keep rising and stay high to put the brakes on inflation. WORLD OIL PRICES Oil prices rose slightly in thin Asian trade on Thursday, pausing from a six-day losing streak fed by mounting concerns that more aggressive interest rate increases by central banks could pressure economic growth and fuel demand. EMERGING MARKETS For the top emerging markets news, double click on AFRICA STOCKS For the latest news on African stocks, click on SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS South Africa's rand strengthened against the U.S. dollar and dollar-denominated bonds of Eskom rose, after the finance minister said in his 2023 budget speech that the government would take on more than half of the state utility's debt. NIGERIA ECONOMY Nigeria's economic growth slowed to 3.52% in the fourth quarter from 3.98% a year earlier , as widespread flooding destroyed farms, oil production declined and industry was squeezed by rising costs, the statistics office said. NIGERIA ELECTION Nigerians will vote on Saturday in what could be their most credible and close electoral contest since military rule ended nearly a quarter of a century ago - and the first in which a presidential candidate who is not from one of the two main parties stands a chance. KENYA MARKETS Kenya's shilling dropped to new all-time low on Wednesday due to a rise in dollar demand from general goods importers, petroleum-retailers and manufacturing companies, traders said. KENYA TOURISM Kenya's tourism industry, one of the East African nation's top sources of hard currency, surged 83% in 2022 to 268 billion shillings ($2.13 billion) as COVID curbs eased, the government said on Wednesday. UGANDA DEBT The Ugandan government will not engage in any external borrowing in the financial year that starts in July to ease debt-servicing pressures, the finance ministry said. NAMIBIA ECONOMY Namibia expects economic growth of 3.2% in 2023, down from an earlier forecast of 3.4% reflecting lower mining output estimates this year, Finance Minister Ipumbu Shiimi said on Wednesday. For the latest precious metals report click on For the latest base metals report click on For the latest crude oil report click on (Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom)