Zuma's about-turn shows power of the South African media, and the markets

Dec 14, 2015 10:45 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

South Africa has had three finance ministers in the space of four days. First President Jacob Zuma replaced his trusted and competent finance minister Nhlanhla Nene with David van Rooyen, a malleable backbencher with a...

How the commodities crunch is hitting mines around the globe

Dec 11, 2015 15:58 pm UTC| Insights & Views

Anglo American, one of the largest mining companies in the world, has announced a restructure that will cut 85,000 jobs worldwide, a reduction of its workforce by almost two-thirds. The move follows a huge downturn in...

The solution to London's airport capacity crisis? Do nothing

Dec 11, 2015 14:44 pm UTC| Insights & Views Life

Londons Heathrow airport is currently operating at 98% capacity and the rest of Londons airports are set to be full by 2040. The debate over how to address this problem has been raging for years but a workable solution...

Oil in Global Economy Series

Base metals and oil hit toll on commodity driven currencies – a bird’s eye view of impact of supply cycle shrink in demand on FX market

Dec 11, 2015 09:54 am UTC| Insights & Views

A brief historical snapshot: Commodities are experiencing what has already been the second-deepest and longest bear market of the past 45 years, with a decline from their peak of over 55% over the past 4.5...

Climate and the rise and fall of civilizations: a lesson from the past

Dec 11, 2015 04:09 am UTC| Insights & Views Nature

2015 will likely be the hottest year on record, beating the previous record set only in 2014. It is also likely to be the first year the global average temperature reaches 1℃ above pre-industrial temperatures (measured...

Why is the business world suddenly clamouring for a global carbon tax?

Dec 11, 2015 03:57 am UTC| Insights & Views Nature Business

Among the various interests at the Paris climate talks, it is arguably the voice of business that has emerged most clearly. Many business leaders are now saying that if the world is intent on reducing greenhouse gas...

Metal Supply & Demand Series

Glimpse on precious metal – Good news for platinum and palladium from china, sluggish for gold from India

Dec 10, 2015 15:32 pm UTC| Insights & Views

Gold: Yellow metal has been an exception to gain slightly by 0.3% yesterday but could not sustain and is trading at just shy of $1,080 per troy ounce this morning, finding support from the weaker US dollar. Good thing...