South African Markets - Factors to watch on Nov 19

JOHANNESBURG Nov 19 (Reuters) - The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect South African markets on Thursday.

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EVENTS

PRETORIA - South African Grain Information Service (SAGIS) monthly bulletin with latest grain stocks and exports data. 1000GMT.

CAPE TOWN - South African central bank Governor Gill Marcus briefs parliament's finance committee. 0700 GMT

GLOBAL MARKETS

Doubts about the pace of economic recovery hit Asian markets on Thursday, with Japanese stocks falling to a four-month low and the Australian dollar down for a third day as a December interest rate hike no longer looked like a sure thing.

After gains of nearly 70 percent in Asian equities so far this year, investors are likely prone to taking profits before year-end. [ID:nSP461853]

SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY

South Africa's current level of interest rates are "adequate" to bring inflation back on target and to help the economy recover from its first recession in nearly two decades, the central bank said on Wednesday.

The Reserve Bank said in its twice-yearly Monetary Policy Review the recovery would be hesitant but that there were convincing signs the low point in the cycle had been reached. [ID:nLI163885]

SOUTH AFRICAN MARKETS

South Africa's rand firmed against the dollar on Wednesday supported by strong gold prices and the local bourse fell for first time in eight days but miners capped the losses.

The JSE Top-40 index of blue chips .JTOPI slipped 0.2 percent to 24,589.09 points, falling for the first-time in eight days and the broader All-share index .JALSH was off 0.13 percent to 27,210.64 points. [ID:nLI303608]

SIMMER & JACK MINES LTD (SIMJ.J)

South African small gold producer Simmer and Jack Mines Ltd (SIMJ.J) on Thursday reported a first-half operating loss, but said it expected new output from its mines to support earnings in the future. [ID:nLJ280848]

ILLOVO SUGAR LTD (ILVJ.J)

South Africa's Illovo Sugar Ltd (ILVJ.J) posted a 3 percent fall in first-half headline earnings per share on Thursday and said it expected full-year headline EPS to fall due to the impact of its rights offer. [ID:nLJ289521]

INVESTEC (INLJ.J) (INVP.L)

South African investment bank and asset manager Investec (INLJ.J) is expected to release its first-half results. The bank said in September it expects first-half profit to be lower due to rising impairments and weaker performances at its Australian and South African units.

ESKOM [ESCJ.UL]

South Africa is looking at ways to help power utility Eskom bridge its funding gap without having to rely on its requested annual 45 percent rise in power tariffs for the next three years, an official said on Wednesday. [ID:nLI167141]

GOLD XAU=

Gold edged down on Thursday, taking a breather after hitting a new record above $1,150 per ounce the previous day as inflation fears fuelled by stronger-than-expected U.S. consumer prices added to the already bullish mood.

But the dollar gained some ground against a basket of currencies on Thursday, slightly sapping gold's momentum. The metal is often bought as an alternative to the U.S. currency. [USD/] [GOL/]

WALL STREET

U.S. stocks broke three days of gains on Wednesday following worrisome outlooks from two major software makers and a surprising drop in home construction last month.

But stocks sharply cut the session's losses just before the closing bell as many investors pointed to a strong uptrend in equities that have pushed major indexes to 13-month highs in recent days. The S&P 500 has ended down only three times in the last two weeks [.N]

ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe's parliament on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill to reform the central bank, including reducing the powers of the bank governor accused by critics of policies that ruined the economy. [ID:nLI173415]

EMERGING MARKETS

For the top emerging markets news, double click on [nTOPEMRG]

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Some of the main stories out of the South African press:

BUSINESS DAY

- S.Africa President Jacob Zuma tells cabinet team to tackle corruption scourge

- Prolonged retail dip dampens hopes for recovery

- Government moves to protect local councils from political interference

BUSINESS REPORT

- Downturn heightens pressure for fraud

- Cabinet sets up task team to tackle corruption

THE STAR

- No IAAF decision yet on runner Caster Semenya (Reporting by Serena Chaudhry)