South African Markets - Factors to watch on March 6

JOHANNESBURG, March 6 (Reuters) - The following scheduled economic events, company announcements, equity and currency market moves may affect South African markets on Thursday.

ECONOMIC EVENTS

South Africa's Q4 current account data ZACACT=ECI

COMPANIES

South Africa's FirstRand reports half-year results

SOUTH AFRICAN MARKETS

South Africa's rand gained on Wednesday, capitalising on pressure faced by the U.S. dollar as markets digested the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's policies.

On the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the blue-chip Top-40 index .JTOPI closed up about 1.2%..JZAR/

GLOBAL MARKETS

Asian stocks rose on Thursday as investors held out hope that trade tensions could ease after U.S. President Donald Trump exempted automakers from tariffs for a month, while the euro stood tall ahead of the European Central Bank policy meeting.MKTS/GLOB

WALL STREET

Wall Street's main indexes finished higher in choppy trading on Wednesday, as investors cheered the likely easing of trade tensions between the U.S. and major trading partners..N

GOLD

Gold inched up on Thursday, helped by a pullback in the U.S. dollar, while investors awaited U.S. non-farm payrolls data due later this week to assess the Federal Reserve's interest rate trajectory as global trade tensions escalated.GOL/

EMERGING MARKETS

For the top emerging markets news, double click on nTOPEMRG

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Some of the main stories out in the South African press:

BUSINESS DAY

- Public health advocates petition finance minister to raise sugar tax

FIN 24

- New rules for electricity prices to be revealed next month