South African Markets - Factors to watch on Jan 22

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The following company announcements, scheduled economic indicators, debt and currency market moves and political events may affect South African markets on Friday.

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GLOBAL MARKETS

Asian stock markets tumbled on Friday as commodity prices fell and the dollar weakened after U.S. President Barack Obama proposed tough new restrictions on banks, curbing investors' appetite for riskier assets.

Japanese stocks fell almost 3 percent as the yen surged against the dollar and the euro and as falling metal and oil prices weighed on shares of resource-related firms.



SOUTH AFRICAN MARKETS

South Africa's stocks fell for a third day running on Thursday, touching a 3-week low as commodity shares were hit by prospects of policy tightening in China, while the rand dipped in a volatile session.

The Johannesburg Top-40 index of blue chips dropped 1.61 percent to 24,823.23 points, while the All-share index lost 1.48 percent to 27,489.85 points.



GOLD

Gold remained under pressure on Friday as U.S. President Barack Obama's plans to limit financial risk taking raised concerns about diminishing capital flows from banks, which have provided liquidity for gold and commodities investors.

Stock markets across Asia fell around 2 percent on Friday,

after U.S. shares suffered their worst one-day percentage drop since October the previous day, while commodities continued their broad slide.



WALL STREET

U.S. stocks suffered their worst one-day percentage drop since October on Thursday as U.S. President Barack Obama proposed tough restrictions on banks that would squeeze profits.

Major banks slid, with Goldman Sachs falling 4.1 percent despite posting stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results, and JPMorgan Chase & Co shed 6.6 percent, after Obama proposed limiting how banks invest their own money.



EMERGING MARKETS

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



BUSINESS DAY

- China tightens seat belts as growth hits incredible 10.7 percent

- Business to Eskom: hikes will cripple S.Africa

- ANC tries to wean officials off state pay



BUSINESS REPORT

- Eskom threatens recovery: Business Unity South Africa

- Stage set for SABMiller to prove its innocence: Authority files charges of anti-competitive distribution

- Cabinet lekogtla targets job creation, services



THE STAR

- Methodist cleric suspended amid probe into church

- Photos claim to show golf's Tiger Woods at sex clinic

(Reporting by Serena Chaudhry) (For more Africa cover visit: http://af.reuters.com -- To comment on this story email: [e-mail]) Keywords: MARKETS SAFRICA FACTORS/ ([e-mail]; [phone]; Reuters Messaging: [e-mail]) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.