Archive for January 28th, 2010

We chat to a market veteran about a very special speaker’s presentation at a recent awards ceremony in Cape Town. Don’t miss Lindsay Williams in conversation with Liston… »

The paper industry has been dreadful of late. However, there are signs of recovery. Ralph Boettger, CEO, of SAPPI talks to Lindsay Williams about the company’s quarterly… »

Local white maize futures ended sharply lower on Thursday amid “panic selling in the market” amid crucial technical levels, according to a local grains trade.
We have seen some panic in the market today, with a bit of panic selling taking place, as I believe we reached a crucial technical level… »

The JSE was firmer in midday trade on Thursday in line with global markets, as risk appetite improved after the Federal Reserve signalled it may keep US monetary policy accommodative indefinitely.
At noon, the JSE all share index was up 0.65%, with resources adding 0.69%, platinum miners advancing 0.49% but gold… »

The FNB Residential Property Barometer survey of estate agents continues to point towards residential market improvement. Demand is up further, albeit only marginally from quarter-to-quarter, but still very significantly on a year-on-year growth basis, and average time on the market is significantly down. Financial stress-related selling is also down, although it is safe to say… »

South Africa’s producer price index (PPI) registered growth of +0.7% year-on-year (y/y) in December from -1.2% y/y in November, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) data on Thursday showed.
PPI was also shown to have risen 0.1% in 2009 from the 14.2% of 2008.
The PPI increased 0.7%… »

Prices at the factory gate inflated by 0.7y/y in December, after falling by 1.2% y/y in November. This is consistent with base effects and the drawing to the close of SA’s recession.

The ascent in the PPI will likely be particularly sharp this year, coming out close to 2.0% y/y in January and moving to… »

Global pulp and paper group Sappi (SAP) on Thursday reported a loss per share for the quarter to end December of 10 US cents, including a loss of 11 US cents in respect of special items.
For the equivalent quarter last year, the earnings per share was 6 US cents, which… »

I’m not very good with touch screens. I eat while I work and my hands get gummed up with food detritus, which tends to hamper the smooth glide so necessary for these absurd instruments.
So the new Apple iPad is lost on me, and so is the concept of “bridging the gap between the smart ‘phone… »

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc CEO Steve Jobs took the wraps off the highly anticipated “iPad” tablet and pitched it at a surprisingly low price, aiming to bridge the gap between smartphones and laptops.

Jobs, who returned to the helm last year after a much-scrutinized liver transplant, took the stage at a packed theater on… »