By Stella Mapenzauswa
PRETORIA (Reuters) - Higher global demand for its exports unexpectedly shrank South Africa‘s current account deficit in the first quarter of the year, a trend that could continue if the sharply depreciated rand remains weak.
Consumer inflation for May also slowed more than expected, giving the Reserve Bank more space to keep interest rates at four-decade lows to try to revive flagging growth in Africa’s biggest economy. Continue reading
By Clare Hutchison
LONDON (Reuters) - Western government sanctions against Iran suffered a big setback on Wednesday when Britain’s top court ruled that the government was wrong to have imposed sanctions on the biggest Iranian private bank over alleged links to Tehran’s nuclear programme.
The Bank Mellat case and more than 50 like it pending at the European Union’s two highest courts have clouded the future of EU sanctions and alarmed Washington, which relies on European support to throttle Iran‘s links to the global economy in hopes of getting it to curb its disputed pursuit of nuclear power. Continue reading
When one is in business for himself it often becomes clear that the expenses incurred during the daily operations of the business may be more than the profit the business actually takes in. This may make it necessary to take steps that will help to push the business forward toward financial success while allowing all of the routine expenditures to be met at the same time. So what is one to do when he finds himself in this situation? It may become apparent that he needs assistance from an outside source. Thus, a commercial loan may be just the thing to accomplish this. What is a commercial loan and how can it help? Continue reading
By Ian Chua
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Japanese stocks started trade on Wednesday with a spring in their step thanks to a positive lead from Wall Street and a softer yen, but the rest of Asia was restrained as investors waited for clarity on the Federal Reserve‘s next policy step. Continue reading
By Kanupriya Kapoor and Jonathan Thatcher
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia‘s parliament debated measures on Monday to open the way for a jump in fuel prices after months of delay that have undermined confidence in the government and the ability of Southeast Asia’s biggest economy to continue rapid growth. Continue reading
TSX falls as stimulus concerns weigh on banks
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada‘s main stock index slipped in early Friday trade, led by declines in financials and industrials, as investors fretted about a possible pullback in global central bank stimulus programs. The Toronto Stock Exchange‘s S&P/TSX composite index < .gsptse> was down 28.90 points or 0.24 percent, at 12,248.23 shortly after the open. Continue reading
Nikkei rises above 15,000 on weak yen, dollar resilient
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Japan’s Nikkei share average surged to a 5-1/2-year high on Wednesday as Japanese exporters rallied after the yen’s recent slide, while the dollar showed resilience, supported by signs of an improving U.S. economy. The dollar eased 0.1 percent to 102.22 yen, but still remained near Tuesday’s high of around 102.40 yen, the greenback’s strongest level against the Japanese currency since October 2008. Continue reading
The price of oil fell toward $95 a barrel Thursday, dragged down by evidence that U.S. crude supplies are rising while global economic growth is seen slowing.
By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for July delivery was down 47 cents to $95.41 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 50 cents to close at $95.88 a barrel on Wednesday. Continue reading
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA — The air ambulance company, Angel MedFlight, www.angelmedflight.com, is happy to report a 20-year-old Ariel Gernes, who sustained several traumatic injuries from a multiple vehicle collision while she was visiting France, is now back in the United States receiving acute care. Angel MedFlight provided the air medical transportation after Gernes’ insurance company refused to provide medical transport back to the United States. Continue reading
BANGKOK (AP) — Asia stock markets extended losses Thursday after weak U.S. indicators sparked fears of a slowdown in the world’s biggest economy.
The troubling data included weak hiring by businesses, a plunge in mortgage applications and sluggish orders to U.S. factories. Continue reading