Analysis: Indices

Zambian government welcomes ratings upgrade that sees country exit default status

LUSAKA -Zambia's finance minister on Sunday welcomed a milestone upgrade from S&P Global ratings agency that removed the copper-rich country's default status in the latest sign of economic recovery. ...

Canada says it will resume US trade talks 'when appropriate'

JOHANNESBURG -Canada will resume trade discussions with the United States when it's appropriate, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Sunday, noting he did not have a pressing issue to address...

China to boost trade, investment with Tajikistan, Wang says

China will expand imports of high-quality agricultural products from Tajikistan and encourage Chinese companies to invest in the landlocked country, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said during a...

Britain unveils critical minerals strategy to cut reliance on foreign supply

Britain on Saturday rolled out a critical minerals strategy designed to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers by 2035, with targets to source 10% of domestic demand from UK production and 20% from...

Pakistan says rooftop solar output to exceed grid demand in some hubs next year

BELEM, Brazil -Pakistan's rooftop solar generation will for the first time exceed power demand on the country's electrical grid during daytime hours in some major industrial regions next year, a...

Brazil fears losing US market share in instant coffee after Trump maintains tariffs

SAO PAULO -Brazil risks losing its market share in instant coffee sales in the U.S. after President Donald Trump retained 50% tariffs on the product while cutting duties for green coffee, the...

China pledges to work with South Africa on multilateral trade, zero-tariff plan, Xinhua reports

BEIJING -China is willing to work with South Africa to safeguard the multilateral trading system and promote the early implementation of zero-tariff treatment for South African goods, Premier Li...

Copper giant Codelco signs deal with India's Adani for exploration in Chile

SANTIAGO -Chilean miner Codelco and India's Adani Group have signed an agreement for a copper project exploration in Chile, Codelco said in a statement on Friday.  The agreement...

AIP plans sale or listing of French aluminium plant, union says

PARIS -U.S. investment firm American Industrial Partners plans to sell or list on the stock market Aluminium Dunkerque, France's largest aluminium plant, a union official said on Friday. ...

South Africa's Cell C Johannesburg listing priced below range

South African mobile operator Cell C's listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange was priced at 26.50 rands per share, below a previously set range of 29.50-35.50 rands, the company said on Friday. ...

South African rand and stocks weaker on selloff linked to US jobs data

JOHANNESBURG -South Africa's currency and stocks dropped on Friday, as investors dumped riskier assets in the wake of a U.S. jobs report that failed to provide clarity on a near-term path for the...

Singapore GasCo to seek LNG offers in Q1 2026 for supply from 2028

SINGAPORE -Singapore's new state gas buyer GasCo will seek offers in the first quarter for liquefied natural gas term supply for delivery from 2028 to meet an expected supply gap in the country, its...

Risk-on investors turn to Uganda to 'squeeze the last drop' out of frontier markets

LONDON/JOHANNESBURG -Uganda - a landlocked African nation that until recently struggled to get a World Bank loan - is the latest hot destination for investors chasing yields as this year's risk-on...

Price volatility saps bullion demand in top Asian hubs

Physical gold demand across major Asian markets remained weak this week, as volatility in rates deterred potential buyers from making purchases. This week, Indian dealers were offering...

Asian stocks sink as US jobs fail to clear rate outlook, tech hammered

SYDNEY -Asian shares extended a global rout on Friday as the much anticipated U.S. jobs data failed to provide clarity on interest rates, with investors returning to dumping riskier assets even after...

Ivory Coast's main cocoa harvest to decline sharply for third consecutive year, sources say

ABIDJAN -Ivory Coast, the world's biggest cocoa producer, has sold 1.3 million tons of cocoa contracts for the 2025/26 October to March main crop, down from 1.4 million tons last year, amid concerns...

US stock futures extend gains on September jobs data

U.S. stock index futures extended gains on Thursday, as investors assessed a stronger-than-expected September jobs report and the Federal Reserve's interest rate outlook. A Labor...

South African key rate lowered at first decision under new inflation target

PRETORIA -South Africa's central bank cut its main lending rate by 25 basis points to 6.75% on Thursday at the first meeting since its inflation target was lowered, easing concerns that the new...

South African rand weakens ahead of interest rate decision

JOHANNESBURG -The South African rand slipped in early trade on Thursday, as investors looked ahead to the central bank's interest rate decision, the first meeting since the finance minister...