South African Markets - Factors to watch on May 15

JOHANNESBURG, May 15 (Reuters) - The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect South African markets on Friday.

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GLOBAL MARKETS

Asian stocks rose on Friday as investors bought shares that stood to benefit the most from an expected global recovery, but still looked set to post their biggest weekly decline since March on worries equity markets have risen too far, too fast.

The MSCI index of Asia Pacific stocks outside Japan .MIAPJ0000PUS was up 2 percent on the day. The materials and technology sectors were the largest gainers, while utilities rose just 0.4 percent.

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SOUTH AFRICAN MARKETS

South African stocks gained in a late rally on Thursday as investors sought value in previously oversold stocks, while the rand lost as much as 1.6 percent against the dollar, partly on a report suggesting it is over-valued.

The JSE Top-40 index .JTOPI of blue chips climbed 0.72 percent to 19,336.50 points and the broader All-share index rose 0.5 percent to 21,396.35 points.

For Thursday's South African financial markets closing report, double click on [ID:nLE183661]

SAFRICAN ECONOMY

South Africa's economic growth will remain lacklustre this year, but there were tentative signs of a recovery in the global economy, Reserve Bank Governor Tito Mboweni said on Thursday.

He also said that inflation remained "sticky" above the 3 to 6 percent band, largely due to higher government-set price increases and repeated that analysts and the public should not expect interest rate cuts every month.

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