Stocks edge to another record high
November 4, 2013--South African stocks edged up 0.33% on Monday, booking another record finish as investors piled into longstanding favourites such as paper maker Mondi and luxury goods firm Richemont.
But further gains are likely to be limited, given the string of record highs this year that have pushed Johannesburg stocks into pricey territory.
view more
Source: FIN24
Rand weighed down by strike fears
November 4, 2013--The rand was trading near eight-week lows on Monday as fears of a major strike in the platinum sector knocked investor confidence in the local economy.
The rand was at R10.1605/$ at 07:57, marginally firmer than its close in New York on Friday.
view more
Source: FIN24
Rand breaches R10/$ level
November 1, 2013--The rand was trading near one-month lows on Friday, weighed down by the previous day's disappointing trade figures and facing a stronger dollar buoyed by upbeat US economic data.
The rand was at R10.0400/$ at 08:36, 0.2% firmer than its New York close on Thursday. It hit a low of R10.0695 earlier in the session, its weakest level since the beginning of October.
view more
Source: FIN24
SA stocks book third consecutive record close
October 31, 2013--South African stocks booked their highest close on record for a third straight day on Wednesday, edging up nearly 0.4% and boosted by Adcock Ingram after the drug maker said nearly half of its shareholders support a takeover bid.
Sentiment was also lifted by market hopes the US Federal Reserve would announce plans to keep its bond-buying programme intact for a while longer. Continued stimulus is expected to boost riskier assets such as emerging market equities.
view more
Source: FIN24
Rand, bonds weaker on Fed statement
October 31, 2013--The rand was weaker on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve's latest policy statement, which maintained its economic stimulus measures but suggested it may taper sooner than previously expected.
The rand was at R9.9525/$ at 08:09, down slightly from Wednesday's New York close of R9.9420.
view more
Source: FIN24
IMF Sees Sub-Saharan Africa Keeping the Pace of Economic Growth
October 31, 2013--Sub-Saharan Africa's growth is expected to pick-up in 2014, despite the global headwinds that have moderately lowered the region’s performance in 2013, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said today, noting that the softer outlook for 2013 reflects both a more adverse external environment and diverse domestic factors.
In its October 2013 Regional Economic Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa, Keeping the Pace, the IMF said that strong investment demand continues to support growth in most of the region, while output is projected to expand by 5 percent in 2013 and 6 percent in 2014.
"It is heartening to note that sub-Saharan Africa's economies have generally maintained a strong pace despite some tensions observed in the external environment, including somewhat slower growth in emerging market economies" said Ms. Antoinette Sayeh, Director of the IMF’s African Department. "This is a reflection of continued sound macroeconomic policies as well as robust domestic demand, in particular investment in infrastructure and productive capacity," she added.
View the IMF Regional Economic Outlook: Sub-Saharan Africa-Keeping the Pace report
Source: IMF
Rand steady ahead of Fed decision
October 30, 2013--The rand steadied against the dollar early on Wednesday, trading at mid-October levels while investors waited for a Federal Reserve interest rate decision to set the tone for the rest of the week.
The local currency was at R9.8825/$ at 08:37, not far off a R9.8945 close in New York on Tuesday.
view more
Source: FIN24
Mauritian exchange GBOT eyes continent coverage
October 30, 2013--A pioneering pan-African focused trading venue, Bourse Africa aims to serve the needs of the growing African financial markets environment.
Mauritius's first international multi-asset class exchange, formerly known as Global Board of Trade Ltd (GBOT),, will now be called Bourse Africa. A pioneering pan-African focused trading venue, Bourse Africa aims to serve the needs of the growing African financial markets environment.
read more
Source: Africamoney.com
Rand weakens slightly, eyes data
October 29, 2013--The rand weakened against the dollar early on Tuesday but stayed within a recent range as investors waited for local data and looked towards the US Federal Reserve's interest rate decision this week.
At 10:48, the rand was down 0.36% against the dollar at R9.8610, weakening within a range set last week
view more
Source: FIN24
South Africa: Renewables Drive Draws Investors
October 29, 2013--South Africa's renewable energy programme has the potential to power growth in the country as its innovative approach continues to catch the attention of investors at home and abroad.
The Department of Energy's plans to develop the renewable energy industry have seen investment leap from "a few hundred million dollars" to US$5.7-billion last year, according to the Renewables 2013 Global Status Report published in July by REN21, the global renewable energy policy multi-stakeholder network.
view more
Source: AllAfrica.com