Fitch awards Zambia B+

LUSAKA: Internationally-recognised credit ratings agency Fitch has assigned Zambia a B+ sovereign rating in recognition of the economic strides the country has taken under President Rupiah Banda. Zambia received the fourth-highest non-investment grade rating supported by a "stable" outlook from Fitch. 4 Mar 2011 10:01

Unemployment, inflation worries hit consumer confidence

NEW YORK, US: Consumer confidence fell in 25 out of 52 countries in Q4 2010 as hope for a global economic recovery evaporated at the end of last year, according to the latest edition of the Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index, which tracks consumer confidence, major concerns and spending intentions among online consumers. 27 Jan 2011 11:00

[2011 trends] Ever-changing ad industry, constantly developing trends

[Adene van der Walt] So what we can expect to see in 2011? The industry is always changing and new trends are constantly developing and therefore it is crucial to keep the following top of mind. 18 Jan 2011 15:13

[2011 trends] It's a Wild. Wired. Wellthy. World!

[Gisele Wertheim Aymes] The recent global recession has changed our world forever. In a new digital age, characterised by oversupply and too many product types in almost every market, the challenge for companies will be to locate and capture pools of high-profit demand and be able to move with speed and flexibility to take advantage of them. Here are 11 trends for 2011. 18 Jan 2011 14:17

[2011 trends] A year of hard work for brands

[Janice Spark] If 2010 could be summed up as soccer, vuvuzelas and national pride, 2011 will be all about the hard work of restoring the economy to sustainable growth, paying attention to environmental concerns and mastering the technologies that are changing the world. Here are a few trends to watch in 2011. 17 Jan 2011 15:27

Training essential in IT sales environment

[Daniel Silke] I am a good example of a connected, discerning customer who already has done most of his research even before entering a store and I usually shop around looking for the best deals from different vendors. Therefore, I was armed with all the information I needed and I knew the different offerings from the two major outlets selling the new Apple iMac. I was setting the outlets up for a bit of healthy competition by visiting both just before making my decision where to lay down my credit card. 29 Dec 2010 16:25

FIFA fears impact of marketing agent's collapse

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND: World football's governing body FIFA said on Thursday, 23 December 2010, that it feared the financial impact of the collapse of its main product licensing agent, Singapore-based Global Brands Group (GBG). 24 Dec 2010 09:42

Hope for full global economic recovery in 2010 diminishes

NEW YORK, US: After an upbeat start to the year with two consecutive quarters of increases in optimism, global consumer confidence fell three points in September to an Index of 90 as consumers' hopes for a full economic recovery this year fades in most parts of the world, according to the latest edition of the Nielsen Global Consumer Confidence Index. 27 Oct 2010 06:22

UK sued over DRC "conflict minerals"

A London-based campaign group plans to sue the United Kingdom government for allegedly failing to tell the UN about companies and individuals involved in the trade of "conflict minerals" from the Democratic Republic of Congo. 28 Jul 2010 09:20

Game still in the pink of health

Game Stores has come a long way since it opened its first store in Durban in 1970 in cramped premises in the city's CBD, ringing up sales of R78 000 in its first month of trading. Its founders believed that shopping had become a tedious and boring pastime. They wanted to create a fun shopping environment and so conceptualised retailing as a game. The signature bright pink prevails to this day. 19 Jul 2010 08:43

Chemical company gets Best Global Business in Africa award

Yara International ASA, one of the world's leading chemical companies that convert energy, natural minerals and nitrogen from the air into essential products for farmers and industrial customers, has won the 'Best Global Business in Africa' award. Other nominees were BMW, Barclays, Anglo American and Diageo. 23 Jun 2010 08:46

DRC "short-changed" in oil deals

Proposed oil deals between foreign companies and the Democratic Republic of Congo would cut the government's revenues by over 10 billion US dollars, an advocacy organisation claims. London-based group Platform published a report on Wednesday (12 May 2010) criticising leaked confidential contracts for UK oil companies Tullow and Heritage to jointly operate on the DRC side of Lake Albert. 17 May 2010 07:35

Delayed by volcano

[Rod Baker] The eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano had a massive impact on many spheres - from the airlines, to events, to travel, to health, import and exports, and more, and its impact is likely to be felt for a long time - and that's even should the eruption cease completely - which it hasn't! 29 Apr 2010 09:00

Zain, Multichoice Malawi strike deal

[Gregory Gondwe] Zain Malawi has signed an agreement with Multichoice Malawi to enable customers to pay their monthly DStv subscriptions through Zain's mobile money transfer facility, ZAP Khusa M'manja. Zain Malawi finance director Longa Sipula hailed the deal as an example of what mobile phones can do to improve lives. 28 Apr 2010 06:49