The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) entered new territory for the 20th day in the past month on Thursday, led by gold-miner Gold Fields, which reported strong results before the opening. London-listed diversified resources group Anglo American led the downside after its interims disappointed the market.
South African mining giant Anglo American posted on Thursday record earnings for the first half of the year, driven by strong coal and base metals prices. Headline earnings, the group’s favoured measure of calculating net profit, rocketed by 42,9% to ,784-billion compared with the same period a year earlier.
Wage talks between the SA Revenue Service (Sars) and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union deadlocked on Wednesday. Sars spokesperson Tasneem Carrim said the two parties held a formal dispute meeting between Sars management, the union and an independent third party.
The Online Publishers’ Association has lashed out at Telkom for holding the country to ransom over a decision made by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) this week that the operator may not charge added monthly fees to ADSL subscribers.
The United Nations increased its appeal to over -million to help 2,5-million people in desperate need of food in Niger and said more money will be needed to tackle the humanitarian crisis. The UN World Food Programme more than tripled the amount of emergency aid it is seeking for southern Niger — the epicentre of the crisis — from -million six months ago to ,6-million.
The officer investigating the case against Donovan Moodley — who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of student Leigh Matthews — will investigate the possible involvement of others in the crime. Superintendent Piet Byleveldt said although the case against Moodley (25) was closed, there were certain aspects of it that could still be probed.
A 52-year-old Ethiopian refugee detained for six days in connection with the London bombings claimed in an interview published on Thursday that British police beat and humiliated him as he was arrested. Girma Belay, a Christian who has lived in London for 12 years, was arrested on July 22, a day after the failed bomb attack on the city.
Gilles Muller of Luxembourg defeated ninth-seeded Nicolas Massu of Chile 7-6 (2), 6-4 in the second round of the Legg Mason Classic on Wednesday. Muller, who lost to Lleyton Hewitt in last year’s championship final, will next face Arnaud Clement of France after he defeated Britain’s Richard Bloomfield 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7).
Champions of Europe, but only the second-best team in Liverpool. With their Champions League final triumph over AC Milan now history, Liverpool face the reality that they still have a long way to go to catch Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United in the Premier League race.
Two years without a league championship. Not a single trophy last season. A contentious American takeover and a turbulent preseason. The aura surrounding Manchester United isn’t what it used to be. Alex Ferguson’s team finished in third place last season — 18 points behind Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.