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JSE lacklustre as market awaits rating outcome
June 5, 2015--Local financial markets have hardly reacted to remarks by IMF chief Christine Lagarde as they await
the latest rating from Fitch credit rating agency.
Rand hits 13.5-year low on downgrade jitters
June 5, 2015--The rand has fallen to a 13.5-year low against the dollar in nervous trade hours ahead of a Fitch
credit rating review and a dollar buoyed by strong US jobs data.
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Source: FIN24
Africa Progress Report 2015-Power, People, Planet
June 5, 2015--For Sub-Saharan Africa, 2015 is a turning point. The summits on sustainable development, financing and climate change are swinging the spotlight not only onto Africa's needs to accelerate development and adapt to global warming, but also onto the region's urgent energy crisis. Two in three Africans lack access to electricity.
But this crisis is also a moment of great opportunity, as we demonstrate in the Africa Progress Report 2015, Power People Planet: Seizing Africa's Energy and Climate Opportunities. Demand for modern energy is set to surge, fuelled by economic growth, demographic change and urbanisation. As the costs of low-carbon energy fall, Africa could leapfrog into a new era of power generation. Utility reform, new technologies and new business models could be as transformative in energy as the mobile phone has been in telecommunications.
view the Africa Progress Report 2015-Power, People, Planet
view the INFOGRAPHIC: Shocking facts about Africa's power crisis
Source: africaprogresspanel.org and FIN24
Boosting Agriculture, Services and Value Chains is Key to Africa's Competitiveness
June 4, 2015--Despite high economic growth, competitiveness in Africa is stagnating, with few signs that productivity is rising, thus hindering the prospect of inclusive and sustained growth.
Poor-quality institutions, infrastructure, health and education hold competitiveness down, although efficiency in goods and labor markets is improving.
Supporting Africa's structural transformation will require a comprehensive policy mix that prioritizes transport and ICT infrastructure, education, trade and further regulatory reform.
African economies' prospects for long-term, sustainable growth are under threat from weakness in the core conditions necessary for competitive and productive economies, despite outwardly healthy-looking growth rates in many parts of the region, according to the African Competitiveness Report, which is published today.
view the The Africa Competitiveness Report 2015
Source: World Bank
JSE feels heat as foreign investors dump stocks
June 4, 2015--Selling pressure on the JSE could be a case of foreign investors ditching SA shares amid
uncertainty as traders await Fitch's latest credit rating update.
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Source: FIN24
Rand touches 11-week low on downgrade fears
June 4, 2015--The rand has extended losses against the dollar,
touching an 11-week low in cautious trade a day ahead of a ratings update by Fitch.
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Source: FIN24
WEF-The Africa Competitiveness Report 2015
June 4, 2015-The Africa Competitiveness Report 2015 comes out at an auspicious moment for the continent. Africa's solid average growth rate of more than 5 percent over the past 15 years bears witness to the region's impressive economic potential.
A growing labor force and a large and emerging consumer market hold the promise of significant further growth opportunities. Yet myriad challenges need to be addressed in order to reap these potential gains. Africa's growth path could be more equitable and broad based. Economies need to shift toward higher value added activities that will provide quality employment opportunities for their growing populations and lay the foundations for sustained growth. Africa has all the ingredients to make this happen, and decisions and actions taken today will determine whether Africa will succeed in achieving higher levels of prosperity.
view the WEF Africa Competitiveness Report 2015
Source: World Economic Forum (WEF)
JSE rally runs out of steam
June 3, 2015--The remarkable turnaround on the JSE has not continued and by
midday most of the major indices were again decisively lower.
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Source: FIN24
Rand steady, focus on Greek debt hopes
June 3, 2015--The rand has steadied against the dollar after the Reserve Bank said an interest rate cut is
unlikely and hopes for progress in Greek debt talks boosted sentiment.
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Source: FIN24
JSE descent set to gather steam
June 2, 2015--The longest continuing drop on record in JSE share prices has entered its tenth consecutive day,
and the fall seems to be picking up momentum.
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Source: FIN24
