Middle East

After slipping by one point to 42 index points in the first quarter of this year, the business mood in the building sector fell by a further four points to 38 in the second quarter, the FNB/BER... 

South Africa's agriculture sector recorded a trade surplus of $1.55-billion in the first quarter of this year, marking the highest first-quarter surplus in South Africa's agriculture trade history... 

Conflict in the Middle East was having a substantial effect on the airline industry, worldwide, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has reported, in its latest financial outlook... 

Investment demand for platinum remains extremely strong, with market fundamentals continuing to support platinum as a compelling investment. Market tightness suggests that there is insufficient... 

Despite short-term headwinds from the conflict in the Middle East, gold is expected to resume its forward momentum once the war concludes with the yearly average gold price forecast to surge by 43%... 

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices could rise further in significant volatility than experienced so far during the Iran war if supply disruptions coalesce with hot weather in Asia and European... 

In a survey of 11 749 workers across 14 markets and a range of industries, 72% of respondents, including white-collar frontline and managerial employees, said AI has already considerably changed... 

“Our citrus sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience in an increasingly volatile supply chain environment. It is proof that South Africa produces world-class agricultural products, but... 

South Africa's private sector contracted in May as output and new orders fell amid higher fuel prices and uncertainty linked to the Iran war, a business survey showed on Wednesday. The S&P Global... 

The Business Confidence Index (BCI) published by financial services firm RMB and economic research organisation the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) fell by eight points to 39 in the second... 

S&P Global Ratings warned on Tuesday that rising oil prices from the Middle East crisis pose a growing risk to South Africa's consumer-led economy, even as the fiscal consolidation push remains... 

The seasonally adjusted Absa Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) remained above the neutral 50-point mark for a second consecutive month, although the index declined by 1.8 points to 50.8 in May from... 

The South African automotive industry and government have not yet found “that sweet spot” that would shore up the local manufacturing sector as it faces declining local parts content and increasing... 

Countries are increasingly prioritising domestic energy resources as they seek to reduce their reliance on imported fuels in response to what the International Energy Agency (IEA)  is describing as... 

The Southern African Vinyls Association (SAVA) hosted its 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 21 May 2026, bringing together key stakeholders from across the PVC value chain to reflect on the past... 

Financial market research company BMI expects oil prices to average $90/bbl this year, and to remain higher for longer, which will, in turn, feed into rising inflation. This will lead to pressure... 

The South African rand was steady in early trade on Wednesday, ahead of the release of inflation data which is expected to reflect pressures from the war in the Middle East. At 0619 GMT the rand... 

The South African rand weakened on Tuesday as investors stayed cautious while monitoring developments in the Middle East after US President Donald Trump paused a planned attack on Iran. At 0730 GMT... 

Investment demand for platinum remains extremely strong, with market fundamentals continuing to support platinum as a compelling investment. Market tightness suggests that there is insufficient...