Economists will be on the lookout for growth figures from the US and SA, while the Bank of England’s governor will seek to clarify policy intentions.
The rand has been caught in a brutal pincer of dependence on weak European markets, domestic turmoil and tighter US monetary policy.
An increase in gold prices pushed international reserves up for the first time this year.
Central bank decisions, the latest economic reports and new South African mining and manufacturing data will keep investors and economists hopping.
The rand has fallen through the psychologically important level of 10 to the dollar, with upbeat expectations about US jobs data expected later.
Recent months have brought the consumer a barrage of bad news.
PODCAST: We find out how the setback at Eskom’s Medupi power station will affect the country’s power supply and economic growth.
The US Federal Reserve’s two-day policy meeting will set the tone for global markets this week as leaders of the G8 gather for a summit in Ireland.
Low interest rates are not the only solution for economic growth, says South African Reserve Bank governor Gill Marcus.
The Reserve Bank governor has said policy makers’ core mandate is to control inflation even as economic growth forecasts are set to be lowered.
The rand has weakened against the dollar, hit by fresh concern about worsening labour unrest. But dealers expected the currency to find support.
The rand has became the world’s most oversold major currency after the biggest monthly decline since September 2011, according to trading patterns.
As equity markets in the East and West faltered and bond yields in the US climbed, emerging market currencies, particularly the rand, got trounced.
President Jacob Zuma and his Cabinet are putting on brave faces in the wake of a catastrophic economic week. But will investors buy their new plan?
JSE remains unaffected by the ups and downs of the South African economy.
Yields on 13-year bonds have risen the most in seven months, amid a selloff by foreign investors on speculation a weakening rand will stoke inflation.
A series of growth updates and other economic indicators from the US, Japan and South Africa will set the tone this week.
Although the rand has plummeted to a near four-year low, market experts say it is not likely to drop further ahead of anticipated inflation data.
China has become a massive trading partner, and the currency a hedge against dollar fluctations.
Europe’s rumoured rate cuts and the possible continuation of the US Federal Reserve’s buying programme will set the tone for markets this week.
The SA Reserve Bank has done well to balance economic growth and job creation while pursuing its mandate to monitor inflation, says Pravin Gordhan.
China, India and the United States have been expected to emerge as the three dominant world economies by 2050.
There is a large gap between what the country is exporting and what it is importing.
Adcorp’s employment figures for February have shown South Africa’s job situation has not changed, but labour productivity has hit a 50-year low.
The good news, though, is that finances have been kept under control.
Rand reportedly continues to perform poorly due to ratings downgrades, labour unrest and slow economic growth.
Investors will have plenty to work on through the week, despite US President Barack Obama’s second inauguration staying in the spotlight.
The European Central Bank will take centre stage this week as policymakers gather for their first meeting of the year. Is a rate cut imminent?
The Vietnamese government’s war propaganda may no longer be enough to allay citizens’ anger over the ailing economy.
Labour unrest in the mining sector has hit where it hurts. So what does South Africa’s first credit downgrade in nearly two decades mean?
The impact of strikes in mining and transport will have long-term effects on the economy that cannot be quantified yet, writes Faranaaz Parker.
Wildcat strikes in the platinum belt have entered a sixth week with no resolution in sight and investors are beginning to grow concerned.