The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market

moves and political events may affect African markets on Thursday.

- - - - -

EVENTS:

MAURITIUS - Expecting inflation data for November.

The rate inched down to 4.3 percent in October.

ZAMBIA - The central bank auctions Treasury bills.

BOTSWANA - Expecting the central bank to set its

lending rate after leaving it at 9.5 percent in

October.

MOZAMBIQUE - Expecting the latest economic growth

estimates for 2012.

GLOBAL MARKETS

Asian shares rose to a 16-month high on Thursday

after U.S. President Barack Obama said a deal to

avert the so-called fiscal cliff of year-end tax

hikes and spending cuts was possible in 'about a

week' if Republicans compromise on taxes.

WORLD OIL PRICES

Brent crude held below $109 per barrel on

Thursday, as niggling worries about the global

economy and oil demand following subdued data from

the United States and Europe countered supply

fears stemming from simmering Middle East

tensions.

EMERGING MARKETS

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AFRICA STOCKS

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SOUTH AFRICA CURRENCY, BONDS

South Africa's rand edged up against the dollar

after encouraging euro zone economic data, but

local current account figures on Thursday may set

the longer-term direction, and a wider than

expected deficit could weigh on the rand.

SOUTH AFRICA SHARES

South African stocks booked their highest close on

record, as renewed risk appetite prompted

investors to buy higher-yielding shares like Kumba

Iron Ore.

NIGERIA MARKETS

Nigeria's naira firmed further against

the U.S dollar on the interbank market on

Wednesday, boosted by dollar sales by some unit of

foreign banks and U.S. oil major Chevron.

NIGERIA POLICY

Nigeria's central bank governor said on Wednesday

that monetary tightening earlier in the year had

largely achieved its objectives of stabilising the

naira and taming inflation, which were less of a

worry than four months ago.

KENYA MARKETS

The Kenyan shilling weakened against the

dollar on Wednesday as importers bet low

inflation would give room for policymakers to

lower interest rates further in January and bought

dollars.

KENYA ECONOMY

The World Bank said on Wednesday it had cut

Kenya's economic growth forecast to 4.3 percent in

2012 from an earlier 5 percent due to the effects

of high lending rates, before recovering to 5

percent in 2013.

GHANA ELECTIONS

Ghana's cliff-hanger presidential election on

Friday will test the country's reputation as a

bulwark for democracy and economic growth in

Africa's so-called coup-belt.

RWANDA AID

Rwanda may have to cut its 2013 economic growth

forecast, its finance minister said, if $240

million in international aid remains delayed or

suspended over allegations it backed rebels in

eastern Congo.

IVORY COAST FUNDS

Ivory Coast secured $8.6 billion in donor

financing on Wednesday to fund a 2013-2015

development plan, nearly twice the amount the

government was seeking, Prime Minister Daniel

Kablan Duncan said.

UGANDA CURRENCY

The Ugandan shilling weakened fractionally

against the dollar on Wednesday and traders said

this week's surprise rate cut and a slew of donor

aid freezes pointed to further losses.

SUDAN CURRENCY

Sudan plans to close the gap between official and

black market exchange rates through higher

earnings from resources like gold and oil instead

of devaluing the pound again, a vice-president

said on Wednesday.

SOUTH SUDAN OIL

Sudan will not allow South Sudan's oil exports to

flow through its territory until Juba cuts ties

with anti-Khartoum rebels and expels their

leaders, a Sudanese vice president said on

Wednesday, dampening hopes that bilateral tensions

were over.

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((Compiled by Nairobi Newsroom))

Keywords: AFRICA FACTORS/

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