African Markets - Factors to watch on July 25

NAIROBI, July 25 (Reuters) - The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Monday.

- - - - - EVENTS: NIGERIA - Central Bank Lending rate decision. All analysts polled expect Nigeria's Central Bank Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to raise its key interest rate for the fourth consecutive meeting. Most analysts expected a 50 basis point (bps) increase to 8.5 percent. KENYA - Equity Bank posted a 52 percent rise in pretax profit for the first-half of this year, driven by growth in customers attracted by new distribution channels such as mobile phone banking, its chief executive said on Monday. ITALY- The Food and Agriculture Organisation emergency meeting on east Africa famine to discuss mobilising aid. To be attended by ministers, senior reps from member countries, UN bodies, NGOs etc, press conference to follow at 1030 GMT MALAWI - Expect more violence in Malawi where police and the army have cracked down on nationwide protests against President Bingu wa Mutharika. GLOBAL MARKETS Stocks fell while the Swiss franc rose and gold hit a record high on Monday as hopes for a political deal to avert a U.S. default began to fade, though investors were mostly seeking to protect their portfolios with no signs of market panic.

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SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS South Africa's rand held steady against the dollar on Friday after crawling back up from six-week lows hit early this week, while bonds ended near multi-week highs. KENYA POWER Kenya Power will begin daily power cuts starting July 27 for an unspecified period in east Africa's biggest economy due to low water levels at hydropower dams and a decline in fuel-based power supply, the firm said on Monday. KENYA MARKETS The Kenyan shilling reversed earlier gains against the dollar on Friday weighed by banks buying greenbacks to square their positions ahead of the weekend, while stocks halted a two-day fall.

MALAWI PROTEST Malawi's President Bingu wa Mutharika has appointed a new army chief two days after a deadly crackdown on anti-government protesters, raising speculation about the loyalty of the impoverished southern African nation's military.

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