The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect African markets on Friday.

– – – – – GLOBAL MARKETS Asian shares edged higher on Friday, after U.S. equities were buoyed by solid quarterly earnings and a rebound in technology stocks, while the euro languished near three-month lows after the European Central Bank kept interest rates unchanged. MKTS/GLOB

WORLD OIL PRICES Oil prices edged lower on Friday, but Brent largely held its gains from the previous session amid concerns that Iran may face renewed sanctions, choking off supply. O/R

EMERGING MARKETS For the top emerging markets news, double click on STOCKS For the latest news on African stocks, click on .J

SOUTH AFRICA MARKETS South Africa’s rand stabilised on Thursday after a torrid week which saw the currency set several new three-month lows against the dollar, while stocks rose thanks to gains for firms including banks and some retailers. South African markets will be closed on Friday for the Freedom Day public holiday. MARKETS The Kenyan shilling KES= weakened against the dollar on Thursday amid increased demand from commodity importers buying dollars to meet end month obligations, traders said. OIL Angola’s oil exports will slide to their lowest in nearly 12 years in June after state oil company Sonangol axed two cargoes from the final loading programme. OIL An unusually large quantity of gasoline is floating off the coast of West Africa as Nigeria boosts imports to avoid shortages before a presidential election early next year. AFRICA COMPANIES Businessman Christo Wiese stunned crisis-hit Steinhoff SNHJ.J with a $5 billion lawsuit on Thursday, sending shares of the South African multinational retailer fighting for survival after it uncovered accounting irregularities down 17 percent. POLITICS Tanzanians largely ignored on Thursday a U.S.-based activist’s call to stage nationwide protests against President John Magufuli’s government. TELECOMS Nigerian telecoms company Globacom and China’s Huawei Technologies Co Ltd HWT.UL are laying an undersea cable that will provide high-speed internet to oil platforms in the country’s Niger Delta region. POLITICS Madagascar’s opposition called on Thursday for the president and prime minister to resign and said it would no longer negotiate in a deepening dispute over new election laws. INSURANCE East Africa’s largest insurance group Jubilee Holdings JUB.NR plans to develop innovative means to reach the uninsured to boost profits by 20 percent in 2018.