South African Markets - Factors to watch on Feb 25

JOHANNESBURG, Feb 25 (Reuters) - The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect South African markets on Wednesday.

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GLOBAL MARKETS

Asia stocks edged up on Wednesday as reassuring comments from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke sparked a rebound in battered financial shares, while the yen slid further on Japan's mounting economic and political troubles.

Safe-haven government bonds retreated as investors shifted funds into riskier assets, while gold steadied after having soared in the past few weeks on mounting fears about the financial health of countries trying to contain the crisis.

For a story, please double click on [ID:nSP369762]

SOUTH AFRICAN ECONOMY

South Africa's economy shrank for the first time in a decade in the fourth quarter of 2008, weighed down by a big fall in manufacturing output and boosting the chances of an early interest rate cut.

For a story, double click on [ID:nLO712579]

SOUTH AFRICAN MARKETS

South African blue chips slid to a 3-month low on worries about the deteriorating world financial system on Tuesday, but the rand gained and government bonds firmed on speculation of aggressive interest rate cuts.

Johannesburg's Top-40 index .JTOPI of blue chips fell 2.65 percent to 16,870.20 points as stocks across the bourse fell. The broader All-share index lost 2.45 percent at 18,813.38 points.

For Tuesday's South African financial markets closing report, double click on [ID:nLO9357]