Trusting the big banks with our savings

[Published by Datamonitor] LONDON, UK: We're putting increasing amounts of cash into saving accounts despite rising pressures on our finances but it is the big banks that we're trusting, giving them increasing power over the market, finds Datamonitor. 15 Feb 2011 11:16

Deloitte Consumer Spending Index continues steady decline in January

NEW YORK, US: The Deloitte Consumer Spending Index (the Index) continued to decline in January, hitting its lowest level since August 2009. The Index attempts to track consumer cash flow as an indicator of future consumer spending. 15 Feb 2011 10:43

Anti-corruption Act scuppers deals

NEW YORK, US: According to results of Deloitte's annual Look Before You Leap survey of corporate executives, investment bankers, private equity executives and hedge fund managers, 63% of respondents reported that the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and anti-corruption issues caused their companies to renegotiate or pull out of planned business relationships, mergers or acquisitions over the last three years. 8 Feb 2011 11:48

Private sector deals send positive signal to financial services sector despite falling values

LONDON, UK: While deal values in the financial services sector dropped off in the final quarter of last year, PwC experts believe that this decline will not change the positive trend of increasing mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity. 4 Feb 2011 06:09

Stalemate on lending: Consumers scale back borrowing; banks keep capital

LONDON, UK: Figures released recently by the British Bankers' Association (BBA) showed that demand for unsecured credit continues to wane, with net lending falling by £2 billion (about R22 billion) last year as households scale back their debt. 31 Jan 2011 09:21

Global SMS traffic to reach 8.7 trillion in 2015

LONDON, UK: According to the latest forecasts from Informa Telecoms & Media, SMS will remain a significant source of revenues and traffic for mobile operators on a global basis until at least 2015. The company reckons SMS traffic growth will be driven by enterprise, emerging markets and social networks. 27 Jan 2011 08:28

UK: No change in consumer confidence

LONDON, UK: The GfK NOP Consumer Confidence Index stayed the same in December, at -21, with some losses and some gains 5 Jan 2011 10:24

UK commercial property market recovery presents investment opportunities

The continued recovery of the UK commercial property market, coupled with the strengthening of the rand relative to pounds sterling, has presented South African investors with a unique opportunity to invest in the UK while capitalising on the recovery cycle. 3 Dec 2010 07:46

Nampak plan to box clever pays off

Nampak announced that for the year ended 30 September 2010, its operating profit increased by 126% following good turnarounds in the paper businesses in South Africa and Europe and the sale or closure of a number of loss-making businesses. 24 Nov 2010 09:51

PwC reports FY2010 global revenues of US$26.6 billion

LONDON, UK: PwC reported aggregate gross revenues of US$26.6 billion (about R186.2 billion) for its worldwide network of member firms for the fiscal year ended 30 June 2010, showing a slight increase in revenues at constant exchange rates. 26 Nov 2010 06:00

2010 US online property insurance report

RESTON, US: comScore, Inc. has released its 2010 Online Property Insurance Report, based on behavioural data from comScore's 1 million person US panel and a survey of more than 2 000 US Internet users aimed at understanding attitudes and intentions with regard to conducting insurance transactions online. 24 Nov 2010 07:28

International banks eye former soviet countries

MOSCOW, RUSSIA: International banks can cash in on the increasing number of rich individuals in former soviet countries if they take the time to understand local characteristics, finds Datamonitor. 15 Nov 2010 10:44

Refugees can now own bank accounts

Refugees and asylum permit holders in South Africa will from now on be able apply for bank accounts in the country, the Home Affairs Department announced on Thursday, 11 November 2010. 12 Nov 2010 09:42