The JSE was up 191 points at midday on Monday, but off its record high it hit earlier as gold stocks tumbled on news that Anglo American was selling half of its stake in AngloGold. Anglo said in a statement that it expects the offering to represent a major step in the completion of its stated objectives for its stake in AngloGold Ashanti.
South Africa got off to a solid start on the opening day of the first Test against Pakistan at the National stadium on Monday, going in to lunch at 96-1. On a perfect pitch for spinners, skipper Graeme Smith was the only casualty of the opening session when he was trapped leg before by part timer off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez.
Growth in demand for credit by South Africa’s private sector slowed slightly in August but money supply quickened, leaving the door open for higher interest rates. Central bank data on Monday showed credit demand growth eased to 22,91% year-on-year from 23,13% in July, above forecasts.
At least 10Â 000 municipal workers are expected to converge at Johannesburg’s Beyers Naude Square on Monday to begin a three-day strike. Police say there may be traffic backlogs and disruptions and have urged motorists to avoid the vicinity near the square.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the South African Cricketers’ Association are headed for confrontation over the breakaway Indian Cricket League. The chief executive of CSA, Gerald Majola said South Africans who played in the planned 20-over competition, will be banned from the game in their country.
A solid defence and clinical efficiency in front of goal allowed Germany to triumph 2-0 over a desperate Brazil to become the first back-to-back winners of the women’s World Cup on Sunday. German midfielder Simone Laudehr’s headed goal in the dying minutes sealed the win, after evergreen captain Birgit Prinz had coolly slotted home a crossed ball.
A Pakistani man broke the world-record for "ear-lifting" in Vienna on Sunday, carrying almost 62kg from a cord attached to his right ear. Zafar Gill’s feat earned him a place in the <i>Guinness World Records</i>, as part of a day of record-breaking attempts in the Austrian capital, organised under the slogan "Vienna — Recordbreaker".
While the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has moved towards liberalising trade to make the flow of goods between countries easier and economically more rewarding, non-tariff barriers such as border delays continue to be a concern, a recent study found.
South Korea’s president said on Monday he would use the second summit between the leaders of the divided Koreas to press for peace and an eventual arms cut. Roh Moo-hyun will lead a motorcade from Seoul on Tuesday, which includes business leaders, bureaucrats, poets and clerics.
The unveiling of a multimillion-rand extension to the international terminal building of the OR Tambo International Airport was a milestone in preparing for the 2010 World Cup, Transport Minister Jeff Radebe said in Johannesburg on Sunday.