SA stocks end flat, African Bank plunges
February 5, 2014--South African stocks ended virtually unchanged on Wednesday as investors juggled concerns about the health of the global economy with views that a sharp sell-off in recent days has made some shares look like bargains.
African Bank Investments topped the decliners' list on the exchange as the nation's biggest unsecured loans lender warned of a sharp fall in half profits.
view more
Source: FIN24
Rand maintains recovery mood
January 5, 2014-The rand held broadly stable within a recent trading range against the dollar early on Wednesday, building on its slight recovery from last week's five-year lows as global risk sentiment improved slightly.
Analysts say the lack of any negative emerging market news is giving developing country assets in countries some breathing space while investors wait for clues later this week about US employment and further tapering from the Federal Reserve.
view more
Source: FIN24
JSE extends losing streak
February 4, 2014--South African stocks extended their losing streak to a fifth straight day on Tuesday, with the blue-chip index falling below the psychologically important 40 000 level in a continuing retreat from emerging markets around the globe.
Adcock Ingram featured on the decliners' list after it became clear that the drugmaker's $1.2bn deal with Chile's CFR Pharmaceuticals is set to fail.
view more
Source: FIN24
The rand's worst enemy
February 4, 2014--IT SEEMS that every second day the rand is hitting five-year lows against the dollar,, pound and euro and the necessity to make accurate and effective foreign exchange decisions is more critical than ever.
The questions everyone is asking is: Can the rand get any weaker, or is a turn imminent? If so, how long before the turn and how deep will it be?
view more
Source: FIN24
Greater competitiveness and regional integration critical for South Africa's growth and opportunity
February 4, 2014--Greater export competitiveness and deeper regional integration could help propel South Africa towards faster-growing exports, allowing it to achieve higher, more inclusive, job-intensive growth as laid out in the country's National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, according to the South Africa Economic Update released today.
"Helping South Africa achieve its export potential is essential for rapid job creation, high growth, and more opportunity, especially for young people." said Asad Alam, World Bank Country Director for South Africa. "We hope this report provides concrete evidence to help shape the country's ongoing debate on its economic and development future."
view the World Bank South Africa Economic Update-Focus on Export Competitiveness report
Source: World Bank
JSE hit by global emerging markets sell-off
February 3, 2014--All the major indices on the JSE were lower at midday, after an early morning rally soon ran out of steam.
Analysts said the market is still hampered by the worldwide sell-off of emerging markets, which continued on Monday morning in the Far East. The American stock markets also ended the week lower last Friday.
view more
Source: FIN24
Rand remains under pressure
February 3, 2014--The rand was slightly weaker against the dollar on Monday and will probably remain under pressure from continuing nervousness about emerging markets.
The rand was at R11.1900 to the dollar at 06:35 GMT, down marginally from Friday's New York close.
view more
Source: FIN24
JSE slips, platinum producers down
January 31, 2014--South African stocks fell for a third session in a row on Friday as platinum producers such as Impala Platinum and Anglo American Platinum skidded lower, with no end in sight to a strike at their operations.
Shares of world No 1 platinum producer Anglo Platinum fell 3.75% to R442.71, coming off an almost 12-month high on Thursday, while Implats declined 3.8% to R115.44.
view more
Source: FIN24
Rand begins to recover
January 31, 2014--The rand was slightly weaker against the dollar on Friday, but showed signs of steadying after a volatile week in which it hit a new five-year low.
The rand was at R11.2600/$ at 14:49 GMT, down 0.5% from Thursday's New York close, though it firmed slightly earlier in the session after data showed South Africa recorded a wider R2.78bn trade surplus in December from R770m the previous month.
view more
Source: FIN24
JSE hit as sell-off continues
January 30, 2014--South African stocks fell 0.7% on Thursday, with investors dumping banks and retailers after a further cut in US monetary stimulus helped support the sell-off in emerging market assets.
Shares in Exxaro Resources fell 2.3% to R152.19 after the coal producer warned full-year profit was likely to have fallen more than 20%.
view more
Source: FIN24