African Markets - Factors to watch on Sept 17

Sept 17 (Reuters) - The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Thursday.

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GLOBAL MARKETS

Asian stocks hit their highest level for 13 months on Thursday and the Australian dollar surged after U.S. economic data raised hopes that the global economic recovery was strengthening. [ID:nLH325319]

Shares in Japan rose 1.2 percent as a Reuters Tankan survey showed the mood among Japanese manufacturers this month was at its highest level in a year on expectations conditions would improve in the next three months.

Hopes that the pace of global economic recovery was accelerating kept the U.S. dollar close to the one-year low it hit against a basket of currencies on Wednesday, as investors continued to buy riskier assets and higher-yielding currencies.

SOUTH AFRICAN MARKETS