Business News Leaders

Can SA’s factories withstand the current headwinds?

Factory activity picked up pace in November with the Absa Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rising to 57.2 points from a revised 53.6 points in October. The increase was largely due to a rebound in business activity and new sales orders. But with the sector having to face rising input costs,…

1 Dec 2021 11AM 8 min

Omicron Keep Calm And Carry On

Just when we were beginning to relax, planning end of year celebrations and long-awaited holidays, SARS-COV-2 has mutated into a new variant that has shattered the complacency of the last few months. While there has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth South African scientists did the right thing in…

30 Nov 2021 1PM 28 min

African Bank returns to profit

African Bank is back in the black. The group has cited strong collections and growth in retail deposits, along with a lower credit impairment charge for its recovery.. Alishia Seckam unpacked the performance in greater detail with CEO Kennedy Bungane

30 Nov 2021 12PM 8 min

Asset Owners Forum

Speaking to two CEO’s recently Dominic Sewela of Barloworld and Roland Van Wijnen of PPC, it’s clear that our grand infrastructure plans are still stuck in 1st gear. Predictably, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan placed a grand R1 trillion infrastructure plan (leveraging up to R660bn of ‘crowded…

30 Nov 2021 8AM 27 min

The Week In Perspective

It’s more Bleak Friday than Black Friday… not good news for the rand or our tourism sector as the UK places the country temporarily back under red list travel restrictions after scientists raised the alarm over the new Covid-19 variant yesterday afternoon. And the rand has weakened to over R16…

26 Nov 2021 8AM 26 min

Spotlight on small caps

The JSE’s small-cap sector has proved its worth with the index that tracks these industry players rising close to 20% year to date. Business Day TV spoke to Small Talk Daily’s Anthony Clark for his stock picks in the small-cap sector

25 Nov 2021 1PM 7 min

Invicta delivers 'excellent' results

Investment holding and management company Invicta says it's delivered an excellent set of results for the six months to end-September. The firm posted a 25% rise in revenue from continuing operations and a 55% jump in operating profit. Alishia Seckam spoke to Invicta CEO Steven Joffe for more detail

25 Nov 2021 1PM 6 min

Kaap Agri rebounds

Agricultural services group Kaap Agri more than tripled its total dividend for the year to end-September as revenue at its retail-focussed business units returned to pre-Covid-19 levels. Alishia Seckam caught up with Kaap Agri CEO Sean Walsh for his take on the group’s financial performance

25 Nov 2021 1PM 9 min

M&A activity in South Africa soared in H1

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity in South Africa soared during the first half of the year. Deals worth $52 billion have been recorded and analysts believe activity will remain strong going into 2022. Business Day TV spoke to Patrick Leyden, Partner at Herbert Smith Freehills for more detail

24 Nov 2021 11AM 5 min

Ethos and ARC in R1.5 billion fintech buyout

Ethos Private Equity and African Rainbow Capital have teamed up to acquire fintech platform Crossfin. The R1.5 billion transactions is one of the largest private equity-led investments in the fintech sector locally. Business Day TV discussed the acquisition in more detail with Edward Pitsi, Managing Partner at Ethos Mid Market…

24 Nov 2021 11AM 7 min

Business confidence flat in fourth quarter as shocks weigh

South Africa’s business confidence remains subdued. The RMB/BER sentiment index came in unchanged at 43 in the fourth quarter, as power cuts and intensifying supply chain issues weighed. Business Day TV unpacked the print with RMB Economist Sibohan Redford

24 Nov 2021 11AM 6 min

Rand hits a one-year low

The local unit has been under pressure hitting a one year low on Tuesday off the back of a stronger dollar as traders raised bets for quicker interest rate hikes in the US. Alishia Seckam caught up with RMB’s Varushka Singh for more detail.

23 Nov 2021 12PM 5 min

Has PPC laid a solid foundation for growth?

Cement producer PPC more than tripled its profit in the six months to end-September as it benefitted from higher volumes and cost cutting measures. This comes after a torrid time for PPC where it’s been battling a large debt pile following its push into the rest of Africa. Alishia Seckam…

23 Nov 2021 12PM 6 min

How SA and Kenya are looking to strengthen trade ties

Presidents from both SA and Kenya have addressed the South Africa-Kenya Trade and Investment Business Forum as the countries look for ways to strengthen ties between the two nations. Kenya’s Equity Bank is facilitating some of the deals that are being struck as a result of the engagements and Alishia…

23 Nov 2021 12PM 7 min

The Siren Song of Localisation

Thungela Resources, a major coal exporter which demerged from Anglo American in June, saw its share price fall last month when it reduced its production targets in response to poor rail performance. Thungela and most other big coal miners are stuck. Their masses of export coal have always moved through…

23 Nov 2021 6AM 27 min

Growing demand boosts Omnia

Explosives, fertiliser and chemicals group Omnia has more than doubled its after-tax profit in the six months to end-September thanks to growing demand from SA's mining and agriculture industries for the group's products. Alishia Seckam caught up with Omnia CEO Seelan Gobalsamy to find out if the firm expects the…

22 Nov 2021 12PM 5 min

How Barloworld bounced back in 2021

Diversified industrial group Barloworld has bounced back during its 2021 financial year. The group has swung to headline earnings per share of R11.95 versus a headline loss per share of R2.86 a year ago. The improvement is as as a result of an impressive turnaround at the firm's Car Rental…

22 Nov 2021 12PM 5 min

How Netcare plans to survive a potential fourth Covid-19 wave

Private hospital operator Netcare has resumed dividend payments with a final payout of 34c per share for its 2021 financial year as the group's operations have recovered from the initial impact of Covid-19. The pandemic has weighed on hospital groups as it has led to higher costs due to the…

22 Nov 2021 12PM 6 min

JSE Celebrates 134 Years

November marks the 134th anniversary of the Johannesburg Securities Exchange. It all harks back to the discovery of gold in the Wits basin in 1886, which resulted in the formation of the great mining finance houses with investors who needed a central facility to access primary capital. Initially trading took…

22 Nov 2021 7AM 26 min

The Week In Perspective

South Africa joined a number of emerging markets including Brazil, Russia, Mexico and Poland in tightening monetary policy this year. South Africa, however, stands out as having only hiked by 0.25% as compared to more significant hikes in other countries. SA Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago painted a bleak picture…

19 Nov 2021 6AM 28 min