December rates cut certain, say analysts

Business Correspondent

Johannesburg – PRODUCER price inflation figures released yesterday signal a definite cut in interest rates in December and at least one economist expects a rate cut of more than one per cent....

Trade weighted rand hits three-year high

By Helmo Preuss

Johannesburg – CONTRARY to public pronouncements that the rand’s strength is almost exclusively due to US dollar weakness, the move of the rand to its best trade-weighted level since December, 2000, gives the lie to this reason....

Mbeki steers clear of ‘top pay’ issue

Cape Town – Government has no intention of intervening in remuneration levels for corporate managers, dividends paid to shareholders, or wage settlements, says President Thabo Mbeki....

Job equity inspectors launch ‘blitz’

Johannesburg – The Department of Labour has issued over 178 contravention orders after visiting over 250 business sites in Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Northern Cape and Western Cape as part of the nationwide blitz inspections to check on employers’ adherence to the Employment Equity Act....

Business confidence ‘buoyant’

Cape Town – The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index rose six index points to 61 in the fourth quarter, having already bounced off the 50-index break even point in the third quarter, and representing its second successive rise....

Organised labour agrees on ‘mixed model’ for harbours

By Patrick Cull

CONSULTATIONS with organised labour on the future of the country’s port operations had been concluded and agreement reached that “a mixed model would be best for the development and effective role of our ports” Public Enterprises Minister Jeff Radebe said yesterday....

Pechiney smelter at Coega still on track, says MEC

By Patrick Cull

Bisho – As far as Government was concerned, the R17-billion Pechiney aluminium smelter in the Coega Industrial Development was still on track, Economic Affairs, Environment and Tourism MEC Enoch Godongwana said yesterday....

Telkom to give R195m dividend to Manuel

Cape Town – Finance Minister Trevor Manuel can expect a cheque for R195-million in share dividends from Telkom shortly, says Public Enterprises Minister Jeff Radebe....

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