/ 29 January 2001

SA MARKETS BRACE FOR BARRAGE OF DATA

SOUTH African markets face a barrage of December economic data this week, including delayed inflation figures which are expected to provide clues to the outlook for the direction of interest rates. Consumer data on Tuesday and producer price figures on Wednesday are likely to command most of the attention, although a policy meeting of the U.S. Federal Reserve on both of those days may overshadow the domestic news. Other data include money supply and private sector credit data on Monday, trade figures on Wednesday and reserves figures from the central bank on Friday. – Reuters