SA Today: Key events to watch, Mar 18

— Power & Electricity World conference from Mar 15 to 19.

— Stats SA releases January civil cases for debt.

— Investec holds investor briefing.

— Cipla Medpro releases annual results (approx date).

WHAT TO WATCH FOR:

With no major local data due today markets are likely to eye their international counterparts for direction.

Dow Jones Newswires reports that Asian shares were mixed Thursday, with shipbuilders trading down in South Korea on news of an order cancellation for Hyundai Heavy.

Sentiment in the region was partially bolstered by the Dow Jones Industrial Average’s 0.5% rise to its highest close in 17 months.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 was off 0.2%, Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 was 0.1% higher, South Korea’s Kospi Composite was off 0.1% at 1,680.75 and New Zealand’s NZX-50 was up 0.6%. DJIA futures were up eight points in screen trade.

Overnight US stocks climbed Wednesday, pushing the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a 17-month closing high as a drop in producer prices calmed inflation worries and boosted sentiment toward economically sensitive stocks including Alcoa, DuPont and Caterpillar.

The Dow closed up 47.69, or 0.45%, to 10733.67, its highest close since Oct. 1, 2008. Wednesday marked the Dow’s seventh-straight advancing day, representing its longest winning streak since an eight-day run that ended in August. The measure has climbed 3.96% so far this month and is up 2.93% for the year to date.

ON THE HORIZON:

Mar 19: Weekly treasury bill auction.

Mar 20: No events scheduled.

Mar 21: No events scheduled.

Mar 22: SA markets closed for public holiday.

Mar 23: Weekly government bond auction.

Mar 23: Control Instruments releases annual results (approx date).

Mar 23: ABIL AGM.

Mar 23: SARB releases Q4 2009 quarterly economic bulletin.

Mar 24: Start of 2-day Monetary Policy Committee meeting.

Mar 24: Stats SA releases February CPI.

Mar 24: Crop Estimates Committee releases Summer: second production forecast.

Mar 25: Stats SA releases February PPI.

Mar 25: Final day of SARB MPC meeting - rates decision shortly after 15:00.

Mar 26: Weekly treasury bill auction.

FURTHER AHEAD

Mar 27: No events scheduled.

Mar 28: No events scheduled.

Mar 29: No events scheduled.

Mar 30: SARB releases February M3 and PSCE data.

Mar 30: Treasury releases February statement of national revenue, expenditure and borrowing.

Mar 30: Weekly government bond auction.

Mar 30: York Timber releases interim results.

Mar 31: Customs & Excise releases February trade balance.

Mar 31: Efficient Financial Holdings releases interim results.

Mar 31: Capitec releases annual results.

I-Net Bridge, Tel: +27-11-280-0644, newsdesk@inet.co.za

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 18th, 2010 at 7:49 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.