Peter Attard Montalto

Any VAT increase is probably off the table, leaving the treasury to look for revenue without bringing the coalition to the brink

Some believe the Red Berets could pull the government too far to the left, but its lack of ideological clarity suggests otherwise

Renewable energy could close the gap between demand and supply, ending load-shedding. But out-of-pocket Eskom must find money to upgrade its transmission infrastructure first

The government has committed an additional R2-billion to the airline, but has yet to pay it out

Analysts say Zuma’s speech failed to show meaningful change in policy direction and is unlikely to stand in the way of a credit rating downgrade.

Foreign investors offloaded more rand-denominated debt than what they bought last year, as demand for emerging market bonds declined.

Moody’s is the second ratings agency in 2014 to downgrade South Africa and Fitch, analysts warn, could very well do the same next month.

Financial services group Nomura predicts that the ANC will lose up to 10% of its votes to the DA, Agang and the EFF in next year’s national election.

Gloomy comments from the reserve bank were the backdrop to a fall in bond yields and a volatile day for the rand, which ended down against the dollar.