An expected slowdown in US economic growth and a generally gloomy mood in Asian markets are likely to weigh on the JSE on Friday. On the other hand, a 4.3% rise to $929.50 by Google’s Nasdaq-listed parent, Alphabet — after it reported better than expected results — may help cheer the local market. The US is scheduled to release its first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) data at 2.30pm Johannesburg time. The consensus of a poll of analysts done by Trading Economics is that US economic growth will have slowed to 1.1% from 2.1% in the fourth quarter of 2016. South African economists face a busy Friday while much of the country takes a five day break stretching from Thursday’s Freedom Day to Monday’s Workers Day holidays. The Reserve Bank releases March private sector credit growth and money supply figures at 8am. March’s balance of trade figures from the South African Revenue Service (SARS) are scheduled for release at 2pm. Investec economist Kamilla Kaplan, in her weekly forecast ...
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