The JSE Securities Exchange was flat at noon on Wednesday, with no drivers to give it direction. Dealers said that the market had been fairly quiet and the majority of moves stock specific. By 12.02pm, the all share (-0,03%) and all share industrial indices were flat, while the financial and banks indices firmed 0,67% and 0,84% respectively.
Triple champion Gustavo Kuerten, still recovering from the effects of two hip operations, slumped to his worst defeat in 10 years at Roland Garros on Tuesday when he was dumped out of the first round of the French Open. The 28-year-old Brazilian was the champion in Paris in 1997, 2000 and 2001.
While the rugby bosses have put the game in a state of turmoil, Springbok coach Jake White and his squad went about business as usual. The Bok squad had their first two field training sessions at Shimla Park at the University of Free State on Tuesday, and White said he was satisfied with what he saw.
Ernie Els still talks of being ranked number one. Vijay Singh holds that spot, with Masters champion Tiger Woods just behind. Els is number three, but he could make up ground if he wins the BMW Championship on Sunday on the West Course at Wentworth. ”If I can play to my form, maybe I can get my head in there,” Els said.
A 1-0 victory for Supersport United over Silver Stars at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday evening saw them end their Castle Premier Soccer League campaign in fourth place. Their victory saw United leapfrog Moroka Swallows on the table to end off in fourth position behind Kaizer Chiefs, Pirates and Sundowns.
Grand-slam record-setter Andre Agassi insists his shattering, injury-hit French Open first-round defeat will not rush him into retirement. The 35-year-old says he fully intends to play Wimbledon and the United States Open this year, even if he has to undergo more cortisone injections to dull the crippling pain he endured on Tuesday.
South Africa’s consumer price index excluding mortgage rate changes (CPIX) for metro and other areas, which is used by the South African Reserve Bank for its inflation target, rose by 3,8% year-on-year in April after increasing by 3,6% in March, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday.
Andre Markgraaff, Mike Stofile and Theunie Lategan have resigned from the South African Rugby Union’s (Saru) management committee, media reports said on Wednesday. This follows the request on Tuesday by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee that the whole committee step down.
The government threatened on Tuesday to demolish squatter shacks in what it calls an urban beautification campaign, following the arrests of about 10Â 000 street traders in the capital, a stronghold of the opposition. The campaign against vendors has already sparked clashes between traders and police and unrest has been reported elsewhere.
Western Cape police used teargas, rubber bullets and stun grenades on Wednesday morning to break up a group of protesters in Blackheath, Cape Town. Captain Billy Jones said police warned the group of about 600 protesters to disperse but they refused. He said the police then opened fire.