Business News Leaders

S&P maintains a stable outlook on SA’s credit rating

Ratings agency, S&P Global is hosting a two-day conference focused on the country's credit landscape based on the current political landscape. The organisation expects the ruling party to maintain its power post the May 8th election calling it the best possible outcome allowing for the continuation of current reforms which…

9 Apr 2019 2AM 8 min

Why has the platinum dollar price been declining since 2011

The Platinum Industry Conference took place on Tuesday and the Minerals Council is emphatic that the industry needs bold action in terms of new strategies to help deal with the fact that 65% of the country's PGM operations are loss making. Mining Analyst at Mergence Corporate Solutions Peter Major, attended…

9 Apr 2019 2AM 5 min

Afrimat makes R2.1bn offer for Universal Coal

In pursuit of a diversification strategy - buildings material supplier, Afrimat, now stands as the sole bidder for Australia listed Universal Coal for up to R2.1bn. So, what exactly will the company bring into the Afrimat stable. The move, according to CEO Andries van Heerden, is part of Afrimat's strategy…

8 Apr 2019 2AM 4 min

AYO hits historic lows as PIC inquiry rages on

The commission of inquiry into impropriety at the PIC is raging on with much of today's focus on Ayo Technology which appears to have unduly benefited from PIC investments. The company is inextricably linked to businessman Iqbal Surve whose testimony has resulted in the JSE being summoned to the inquiry…

8 Apr 2019 2AM 7 min

Bitcoin spikes 21% in a week

Bitcoin awoke from its slumber earlier this week. That's as its trading price jumped over 20% and broke the $5000 barrier for the first time since November last year. We were joined in studio by Luno's head of Africa, Marius Rietz for some analysis on the recent spike.

5 Apr 2019 2AM 6 min

Should investors be betting on listed property firms?

As an asset class, SA's listed property sector delivered negative 25.2% performance for the twelve months up to the end of December 2018, taking the three-year return to a mere negative 1.1%. This is compared to a three-year return at the end of December 2017 that was at 11.7%. Portfolio…

4 Apr 2019 2AM 5 min

What exactly are Eskom’s priorities?

The current state of Eskom can be attributed to the lack of maintenance at the utility over the years and its stands testament to poor leadership that's presided over the state owned entity over the period, which fell prey to state capture. Of course, there has been a new board…

4 Apr 2019 2AM 8 min

SA and Nigeria are weighing on Africa’s average growth.

South Africa is not contributing to African growth in any meaningful way. And that IT, along with Nigeria, is weighing on the growth the continent could be clocking - with the hubs contributing half of Africa's GDP. Thys Louw, Assistant Portfolio Manager for Emerging Market Fixed Income at Investec joins…

3 Apr 2019 2AM 8 min

Eskom plans to avoid load-shedding throughout winter.

Eskom has reported back on the work of its technical review team, Business Day TV caught up with the Group CEO of the organisation, Phakamani Hadede and asked whether all the skeletons are now out the closet because it seems as if the new team may have underestimated the extent…

3 Apr 2019 2AM 9 min

Why did Edward Kieswetter decide to return to SARS

The Nugent Commission into SARS painted a picture of a deeply captured organisation, adding to the pressure, the revenue collection target has been missed for a fifth consecutive year and this is the state of the institution that SARS Commissioner-Designate, Edward Kieswetter has returned to. Yes, he isn't entirely new…

2 Apr 2019 2AM 16 min

Factory activity continued its downward spiral in March

The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers released the vehicle sales numbers for March and Toyota remains the leading car seller and exporter in the country. The Absa PMI figure on the other hand does not paint a rosy picture for manufacturers, that with the overall index declining for a second…

1 Apr 2019 3AM 7 min

New digital banking disrupts SA banking industry

Banking in South Africa is going to drastically change With the new digital banking operations set to start this year. This will be pushing the big banks into new ways of doing old things in the retail space. Well-known banking expert Kokkie Kooyman who is the Director of Denker Capital…

29 Mar 2019 3AM 8 min

SARB cuts 2019 GDP growth to 1,3%

The SARBs MPC came out with its decision on interest rates on Thursday and as expected, the rates were placed on hold at 6.75%. Business Day TV’s Alishia Seckam caught up with Chief Economist at Stanlib Kevin Lings and Chief Economist at Econometrix Azar Jammine, for some post announcement analysis

28 Mar 2019 5AM 8 min

Capitec has added 1,5M new customers in the past year

Capitec released its annual results on Thursday and the company reported a 19% increase in headline earnings per share. That's as the bank managed to grow its customer base by 1.5 million during the period. Capitec’s CEO Gerrie Fourie spoke to Business Day TV’s Siki Mgabadeli on how the company…

28 Mar 2019 5AM 7 min

Global slowdown, Eskom and weak business morale weighs on GDP

The SARB (South African Reserve Bank) had its second monetary policy meeting for the year today and as expected, it has decided to hold the repo rate at 6.75%. But global slowdown concerns, trouble at Eskom and arising weakness in business confidence continue to linger and this has seen the…

28 Mar 2019 5AM 5 min

How to choose the right small cap investment

The current state of the South African economy is negative for mid to small cap stocks. But there are local businesses that have shown resilience in difficult periods in the past. So, are there quality companies in this segment of the market that are being overlooked? Independent Analyst from Small…

27 Mar 2019 3AM 5 min

SANRAL suspends pursuing e-toll debt, for now

The South African National Roads agency has suspended the process of pursuing e-toll debt. Motorists who have racked up bills by failing to pay e-tolls in Gauteng are off the hook for past debt. The South African National Roads Agency has decided to no longer pursue the collection of accounts…

27 Mar 2019 3AM 8 min

Mantashe's 2018 Mining Charter will be challenged in court

The Minerals Council South Africa has filed an application for judicial review challenging parts of the recently gazetted Mining Charter, the organisation adds that the decision to approach the courts was very reluctantly taken. It has highlighted that clauses particularly around black ownership do not sufficiently recognize past deals. Senior…

27 Mar 2019 3AM 7 min

Why is global growth concerns affecting the oil market

Oil prices traded lower for most of today and while managing to reverse those by the close - concerns of an economic slowdown still seem to be outweighing supply disruptions from OPEC's production cutbacks and from U.S. sanctions on Iran and Venezuela. Chief commodities analyst at SEB, Bjarne Schieldrop talks…

26 Mar 2019 6AM 6 min

How did the trade sector add 49K jobs

Employment in the country's non-farm formal sector grew by 87 000 in the fourth quarter with most of the increases registered in business services and trade while the largest decreases were experienced in the construction and mining sectors. Labour Consultant Tony Healy joins Business Day TV to discuss what the…

26 Mar 2019 3AM 7 min