South African Markets - Factors to watch on March 16
JOHANNESBURG, March 16 (Reuters) - The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect South African markets on Monday.
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GLOBAL MARKETS
Asian stocks struck a one-month high on Monday as reassurances over the health of the U.S. banking sector sparked a broad recovery in investor appetite for risk, while safe-haven government bonds also gained on hopes for more central bank buying.
Oil prices tumbled $1.87 a barrel to $44.38 CLc1 as market players questioned whether OPEC's weekend decision to enforce better compliance on previous supply cuts would be enough to offset the drop in global demand.
For a story, please double click on [ID:nSP158540]
SOUTH AFRICAN MARKETS
South African stocks rallied on Friday, rising for a fourth straight day, boosted by higher commodity prices and as upbeat sentiment lifted shares worldwide.
Government bonds firmed on expectations of aggressive interest rate cuts, but the rand's surge since Tuesday ran out of steam.
Johannesburg's Top-40 index .JTOPI leapt 3.25 percent to 17,928.58 points, the best level in three weeks. The All-Share index ended 3.1 percent up at 19,762.03 points.
For Friday's South African financial markets closing report, double click on [ID:nLD704918]
GOLD REEF RESORTS (GDFJ.J)
South African gaming and resorts firm Gold Reef Resorts posted a 9.4 percent drop in full year adjusted headline EPS after trading volumes contracted due to weaker consumer spending.
Gold Reef, which operates casinos such as Silverstar and Queens Casino, said headline earnings per share adjusted for one-off items fell to 136.5 cents in the year to end-December versus 150.7 cents. Continued...


