Eskom's battle to keep South African powered with enough electricity continues.
After Eskom warned last month that the grid would be under severe pressure for the next few months as it tried to get on top of overdue maintenance, one of the company's nuclear units is down.
Let's take a closer look at what's going on…
Eskom suffers another blow
Eskom says that the country’s electr... ››› more
This morning, Eskom warned of severely constrained power supplies continuing to blight the country. From tomorrow until the middle of next week, the power utility expects a power deficit.
Yesterday, following the Reserve Bank's monetary policy committee meeting, the governor, Lesetja Kganyago, raised his concerns about the negative impact of load shedding on the South African recovery.
Let's... ››› more
Yesterday afternoon, the South African Reserve Bank announced that, as expected, it was keeping interest rates unchanged.
Since then, the rand has managed to hold its ground. But attention is turning to local data due out this afternoon.
Let's take a closer look at what's going on…
If consumer inflation continues to ease, the Reserve Bank could slash interest rates
The rand manage... ››› more
This afternoon, the South African Reserve Bank revealed its decision on interest rates following its first monetary policy committee meeting of the year.
As expected, the central bank kept interest rates unchanged.
Let's take a closer look at the announcement…
The bank’s decision was in line with expectations
The governor of the Reserve Bank, Lesetja Kganyago, said that the mone... ››› more
Earlier today, Stats SA released its data on producer inflation for December.
Again, the rate of producer inflation, as measured by the producer price index (PPI), fell. This is mostly thanks to the continuing fall in the price of oil.
The data for the month came in better than expected.
Let's take a closer look at what the data revealed…
Producer inflation comes in at 5.8% for De... ››› more
Since rallying strongly at the end of last week, the rand has been slowly trending weaker.
The rand has now slipped to its weakest level in a week as the dollar strengthens.
This as the Reserve Bank's monetary policy committee announces its decision on interest rates later this afternoon.
Let's take a closer look at what's going on…
The dollar takes a boost from the Fed’s statem... ››› more
The rand continues its fight this week to keep hold of some of its gains from last week.
As the week progresses, Eskom is continuing with load shedding. This is having a detrimental effect on the rand as worries grow over the knock-on effect of power cuts on economic growth.
With decisions over interest rates due out in the US tonight and tomorrow in SA, the rand has these announcements in i... ››› more
For the second day in a row, Eskom announced that it will implement stage one load shedding as the power supply is under severe pressure.
The announcement by the power utility is putting the rand under pressure after its brief rally at the end of last week.
Let's take a closer look at what's going on…
Eskom begins load shedding again
Earlier today, Eskom said that it will begin st... ››› more
Earlier today, Eskom announced that it has had to resort to stage one load shedding in a bid to stabilise the power grid.
The power utility blames technical problems at some of its power stations for the latest bout of load shedding.
Let's take a closer look at what's going on…
Eskom institutes stage one load shedding
As of 11am this morning, Eskom has had to begin stage one load ... ››› more
With the oil price continuing to languish below $50 a barrel, speculation over what will happen with the petrol price at the start of next month is growing.
At the start of this month, motorists welcomed a R1.27 a litre cut off the price of petrol. And even though another cut may not be as large at the beginning of February, it could still be significant.
Let's take a closer look at what cou... ››› more
Today, Eskom issued its almost daily warning that power supplies are under pressure.
Eskom now has plans to pay owners of large capacity generators for their use. And may call upon their use when the national grid is under severe pressure.
Let's take a closer look…
Eskom warns of a power supply under pressure
This morning, Eskom advised that the country’s power supply was under ... ››› more
Earlier today, Stats SA released its inflation data for December.
The data showed that consumer inflation eased more than forecast last month. But on average, inflation was higher in 2014 than the year before.
The large cuts in the fuel price are having a positive impact on inflation.
Stocks on the JSE picked up on the news as the data release fuels speculation of an interest rate cut to ... ››› more
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded its economic growth forecasts again.
In its latest report on economic growth, following the release of its last report in October, the organisation cut world economic growth. And it cut its growth forecast for South Africa.
Let's take a closer look at the reasons behind the IMF's cuts…
The IMF cuts South Africa’s economic growth ... ››› more
As candidates prepare to attend the World Economic Forum this week in Switzerland, Oxfam has published a report that highlights the shocking inequalities amongst the distribution of wealth across the globe.
The gap between the worlds' richest and poorest is growing - at a quickening rate.
Let's take a closer look at what the report shows…
The world’s richest people are getting rich... ››› more
Over the last couple of months, load shedding has become more common again.
Yesterday, Eskom said that load shedding is going to be something the country has to deal with for the time being to allow it time to get maintenance work up-to-date. And until new power stations come on line.
Let's take a closer look at what's going on…
Eskom says load shedding is the only way forward
Ye... ››› more