South Africa Daybook: Consumer Inflation, Strike Talks, Imperial Results

South Africa’s annual consumer inflation probably accelerated to 5.2 percent in July from 5 percent the previous month, according to the median estimate of 18 economists surveyed by Bloomberg.

Estimates for the data, which will be released by the Pretoria-based Statistics South Africa at 10 a.m. local time, ranged from 5 percent to 5.3 percent. Prices rose 0.8 percent during the month, according to the median estimate of 16 economists.

     WHAT TO WATCH:
* Labor unions held talks late yesterday on ending a strike by
municipal workers.
* Parliament’s mines committee holds a public hearing at 9 a.m.
on the mining charter that calls for 26 percent black ownership
in the industry.
* South Africa’s Reserve Bank will release an invitation at
about 11 a.m. in Johannesburg for a weekly government-bond
auction.
* The South African Grain Information Service releases data on
weekly deliveries of corn and wheat into storage at about 12
p.m. in Johannesburg.
* Government ministers responsible for overseeing the economy
respond to questions in parliament in Cape Town at 3 p.m.

     MARKETS:
* The rand strengthened 0.3 percent to 7.1957 per dollar by 6:40
p.m. yesterday.
* The FTSE/JSE Africa All-Share Index fell 0.6 percent to
29,259.86 yesterday.
* The yield on the 13.5 percent government bond due September
2015, known to traders as the R157, declined 5 basis points to
6.52 percent late yesterday.

     EQUITY MOVERS:
* Ansys Ltd. (ANS SJ): The designer of transport and defense-
monitoring systems is expected to hold an annual general
meeting.
* Cadiz Holdings Ltd. (CDZ SJ): The owner of a stockbroker and
money manager holds its annual general meeting in Cape Town at
2:30 p.m.
* Harmony Gold Mining Co. (HAR SJ): Africa’s third-biggest gold
company hosts a presentation to money managers, analysts and
reporters at 3 p.m. in Johannesburg.
* Imperial Holdings Ltd. (IPL SJ): South Africa’s largest auto
dealer releases full-year earnings.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gordon Bell in Johannesburg at gbell16@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Vernon Wessels at vwessels@bloomberg.net