ECONOMIC EVENTS Central bank publishes quarterly bulletin Inflation-linked bond auction
Treasury bill auction
February trade figures
SOUTH AFRICAN MARKETS South Africa's rand firmed against the dollar on Thursday after the central bank raised its main interest rate by a higher than forecast 50 basis points to 7.75%. Shares on the local bourse continued their upward trajectory for the fourth consecutive day with the blue-chip Top 40 index .JTOPI closing 0.32% higher at 71,089 points while the benchmark all-share index .JALSH ended up by 0.29%. GLOBAL MARKETS Asian shares were headed for a second quarterly gain on Friday while bonds were enjoying the best month since 2008, but the market was braced for a stormy session after an upside surprise in German CPI raised the stakes for U.S. inflation data. WALL STREET U.S. stocks rose on Thursday as technology-related shares extended their recent strong run, while regional U.S. bank shares fell as the Biden administration proposed stronger measures to help reduce risk. GOLD Gold prices edged up on Friday, en route to their best monthly performance since July 2020, as the recent banking system crisis led to expectations of a less-aggressive U.S. Federal Reserve, making bullion an attractive bet. EMERGING MARKETS For the top emerging markets news, double click on - - - -
Some of the main stories out in the South African press:
BUSINESS DAY
- Fitch slices growth outlook for 2023 on worsening power
cuts
- Mbeki lashes ANC and Mashatile over Phala Phala and Eskom
(Compiled by Nellie Peyton)
