ECONOMIC EVENTS South Africa hosts investment conference Gold and mining production for February
SOUTH AFRICAN MARKETS The South African rand gained modestly on Wednesday as the dollar fell globally on data showing cooler-than-expected U.S. headline inflation in March. Johannesburg-listed stocks closed slightly lower. GLOBAL MARKETS Asian stocks struggled on Thursday, dragged by selling in Hong Kong tech shares, while the dollar was under pressure and short-dated bonds were firm as softening U.S. inflation seemed to suggest the U.S. rate hike cycle was nearing its end. WALL STREET U.S. stocks ended lower on Wednesday after minutes from the Federal Reserve's March policy meeting revealed concern among several members of the Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) regarding the regional bank liquidity crisis. GOLD Gold prices inched higher for a third consecutive session on Thursday, as cooler-than-expected U.S. inflation data spurred bets that the Federal Reserve might raise rates once more next month before pausing hikes. EMERGING MARKETS For the top emerging markets news, double click on - - - -
Some of the main stories out in the South African press:
FIN 24 - 'No end in sight': SA's grim winter starts with Stage 6 and may get worse - Three ex-Absa employees jailed for 15 years for R190m fraud (Compiled by Nellie Peyton)
