Analysis: Indices

Higher US metals tariffs kick in as deadline for 'best' offers arrives

STORY: Higher U.S. tariffs on imported steel and aluminum kicked in on Wednesday. Late the day before, Donald Trump signed a proclamation that put into effect his surprise announcement...

India's Vedanta says Trump's tariffs damaging, seeks import curbs

Indian metals-to-oil conglomerate Vedanta said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump's doubling of aluminium tariffs to 50% poses a threat to the Indian industry already struggling with...

Canadian metals industry warns of layoffs, lost sales due to new US tariffs

TORONTO -Canadian companies and a major union said on Wednesday higher U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum could result in more job losses and lost sales, as Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada is...

NY Fed survey: Last month most firms passed on some of tariff surge

NEW YORK -The majority of businesses in the New York Federal Reserve's district said they passed on at least some of President Donald Trump's tariffs in the form of higher prices last month, as firms...

Turkey to press allies for access to EU defence funds

Turkey will press European allies which plan to sharply ramp up their defence spending to ease restrictions that now require most of that money to be spent in the EU, Defence Minister Yasar Guler told...

UK PM Starmer confident US deal will be implemented before tariff deadline

LONDON -British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Wednesday he was confident that tariffs on U.S. imports of British steel would be reduced to zero within a couple of weeks, avoiding a July...

South African business confidence slips in second quarter of 2025 on tariff woes

South African business confidence fell in the second quarter of 2025, pressured by trade uncertainties due to U.S. President Donald Trump's Liberation Day tariffs and local logistical constraints, a...

Egypt's headline inflation jumps to 16.8% in May, CAPMAS says

DUBAI -Egypt's annual urban consumer price inflation jumped to a greater-than-expected 16.8% in May from 13.9% in April, data from the state statistics agency CAPMAS showed on Wednesday. ...

South Africa's business activity growth hits four-year high, PMI shows

JOHANNESBURG -South African business activity grew at its fastest pace in four years in May, driven by a robust increase in private sector output and improved customer confidence, a survey showed on...

South African supermarket group SPAR sets out growth plan

JOHANNESBURG -South African supermarket retailer SPAR Group is looking to broaden its produce range, expand its on-demand delivery service and sell more own-brand goods after first-half results...

US stocks end mixed, Treasury yields dip as investors eye trade talks, jobs data

NEW YORK -Wall Street wavered and U.S. Treasury yields dropped on Wednesday as investors monitored U.S. trade negotiations and looked ahead to Friday's critical employment report. Tech...

Oil settles 1% lower after US data shows large builds in fuel stocks

Oil prices settled down just over 1% on Wednesday after U.S. data showed surprisingly large build in gasoline and diesel inventories, swelling fuel supplies with OPEC+ planning more output and trade...

Trump to sign order doubling metals tariffs, White House says

WASHINGTON -U.S. President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Tuesday making official his vow to double tariffs on steel and aluminum, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told...

Britain has 12 days to save bioethanol industry, says AB Foods

LONDON -One of Britain's biggest bioethanol producers warned the government on Tuesday that unless it steps in with a support package for the industry within the next 12 days it will have to start...

Senegal aims to raise tax collection to cut reliance on external funding

DAKAR -Senegal plans to boost tax compliance to increase revenue and reduce reliance on financing from external sources like the International Monetary Fund, its Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko has...

How hedge funds performed in turbulent July

LONDON/NEW YORK -Hedge fund returns climbed in July as many were lifted by rising stock markets that hit record highs, though others were caught in turbulence sparked by U.S. trade uncertainty,...

Amazon South Africa expands into groceries, pet food and health supplements

JOHANNESBURG -Amazon has expanded its product offering in South Africa, launching non-perishable groceries, pet food and health supplements in hopes of winning over more customers. ...

A “magnificent” rebound for US indices

After falling by almost 20% between its mid-February record high and its low in early April, the S&P 500 has rebounded strongly to break even for the year. As is often the case, this performance was...

Egypt inflation seen climbing to 14.9% in May

Egypt's annual headline inflation is forecast to have heated up in May, driven mainly by an unfavourable base effect, a Reuters poll found.  The state statistics agency CAPMAS said it...