Oil eased on Tuesday after it reached a record of almost a barrel in the previous session, buoyed by investor demand for commodities as well as expectations Opec will not increase supply despite high prices. United States light crude for April delivery was down 44 cents at ,01 a barrel by 10.30am GMT, after touching a record high of ,95 on Monday.
United States actress Drew Barrymore donated -million of her own money on Monday to the World Food Programme (WFP) that the United Nations agency said would be used to feed thousands of schoolchildren in Kenya. Barrymore (33) a WFP ambassador against hunger, announced her pledge on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
New vehicles sales are continuing to decline, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) reported on Tuesday. New vehicle sales fell by 12% to 46 248 units in February compared with the same month last year, Naamsa said.
The Germiston Regional Court has postponed until October the trial of three men against whom Glenn Agliotti is expected to testify. In an appearance on Tuesday, the case was postponed for trial until October 14, 15 and 16 and October 28, 29 and 30. Stephan Paparos, his father, Dimitrio, and Stanley Poonin stand accused of dealing in hashish.
Former Zimbabwe finance minister Simba Makoni has said there will be no backlash against veteran President Robert Mugabe if he topples him at this month’s general election. ”President Mugabe is someone who has a very special place in our history,” Makoni said in an interview, ruling out retribution against Mugabe.
Malawi lawmakers on Tuesday began examining draft legislation aimed at ridding the HIV/Aids-plagued country of quacks claiming to cure the pandemic through such remedies as sex with virgins, health authorities said. "When it passes into law, all traditional healers claiming to cure Aids will be dealt with," Mary Shaba, head of HIV/Aids issues for Malawi’s Health Ministry, said.
Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri has criticised the Treasury for failing to finance state-owned signal carrier Sentech, Business Day reported on Tuesday. Treasury officials ”just don’t understand” the vital role Sentech could play in lowering South Africa’s exorbitant cost of communications, the newspaper quoted the minister as saying.
The JSE was up 0,82% at midday on Tuesday as advances in the platinum and resource sectors added support. However, financial and bank stocks had started to weigh. By noon, the JSE’s platinum mining index advanced 2,14%, resources gained 1,75% and the gold mining index edged up 0,08%.
South Africa left-arm spinner Robin Peterson looks set to board the flight for India after claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in the second Test against Bangladesh. The 28-year-old finished with impressive figures of 5-33 as the Proteas wrapped up the two-Test series against Bangladesh with a comprehensive innings and 205-run win on Monday.
Platinum struck a record for the second straight day on Tuesday, catching up with gold as a weaker United States dollar and persistent supply problems in South Africa ignited buying from speculators and investors. Platinum’s gains pushed up sister metal palladium to a six-and-a-half year high.