Stronger consumer spending nudged US economic growth forward at a brisker pace than first thought in the first quarter, the commerce department said yesterday, though worries over the recent war in Iraq put a damper on business investment.

A confluence of factors - the strong rand, high interest rates and weak global demand - drove first-quarter economic growth sharply weaker to its lowest level since 1998, it was revealed this week.

But treasury is the loser in bond market.

THE WEEK AHEAD PMI declines reflect woes as rand, global issues add pressure.

The dramatic decline in the latest consumer inflation figures has fuelled speculation the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates by two percentage points, which will give a boost to bond and equity prices this week, but is likely to stem the rand's strength.

Cluttons South Africa, the local arm of the international property company has welcomed the revision of South Africa’s benchmark CPIX inflation measure in the year to April, announced today by Statistics South Africa.

Cape Town has garnered yet another accolade as one of only 24 cities world-wide identified as “future winners”.

Golding Commercial Properties, in a joint venture with Athanor Offshore Property Investments, has successfully marketed the acquisition of £23 million (about R270 million) of UK commercial properties internationally.

South African ecnomists say that the April PPI data released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), which shows that South African producer prices for all commodities rose 3.3% in the 12 months to end April from 5.1% for the 12 months to end March...

Cape Town has been identified as one of only 24 cities world-wide to be "future winners."