AIRBUS CEO Tom Enders reacts in front of an Airbus A400M prior to a press conference at the Airbus facility in Seville, Spain, on Tuesday. The company kept its rank as the world's top plane maker last year after handing over more aircraft than Boeing, while missing its target for the A380 superjumbo, which will stay a "financial liability" for years
AT HOME
The rand firms to R7,27/US$1 before dropping to R7,36 on Monday, with gold 2,3% firmer at $1 153/oz, while the Alsi was up slightly at 28 346. Manufacturing production declined annually by 4,7% for November compared with a revised -9,6% in October 2009, says Stats SA. The auditor-general says R30bn is required to make SA's 5 900 abandoned mines safe. Eskom plans to sell up to 49% of Kusile power station to help fund its R385bn expansion programme. Teacher unions pledge "dedicated professionalism" following the worst matric results (60,7%) in a decade. Tractor sales in December (221 units) fell by almost 50% from the previous December, says the SA Agricultural Machinery Association. The presidency denies it is considering applications for presidential pardons after speculation that Schabir Shaik and Eugene de Kock are to be pardoned. Total new vehicle sales for December dropped 7,2% to 30 478 units compared with December 2008, which is 12,3% down on November 2009, says Naamsa.ABROAD
US president Barack Obama plans to raise $120bn through a fee on banks to help recoup losses from the Troubled Asset Relief Program and reduce the deficit, says a government official. Oil hits a 15-month high of US$84/bbl on news of higher demand from China. Heineken buys the beer division of Mexico's Femsa, including its Sol and Dos Equisan brands, in an $8bn deal. China tells Rio Tinto its industrial espionage inquiry into four of the company's directors is with prosecutors. Electric cars take centre stage as Detroit tries to reinvent itself as a hub of automotive technology. US employers cut 85 000 jobs in December but the unemployment rate remains a steady, high 10%. China overtakes Germany as top exporter after its December exports leapt 17,7%, their first rise in 14 months. Israel is to build a barrier along sections of its border with Egypt to keep out militants and illegal migrants. Barclays wins the first case against property repossession in Dubai since its market collapsed leaving many bond holders with negative equity. Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda leader Rodrigues Mingas, who claimed responsibility for the deadly attack on the Togolese team bus, warns more violence could take place during the African Cup but says only Angolan soldiers will be targeted. Venezuela president Hugo Chavez warns that the army will seize any business that raises prices after he devalued the currency, the Bolivar.SPORT
Charl Schwartzel wins golf's Africa Open at East London. Kim Clijsters beats Justine Henin 6-3 4-6 7-6 in the Brisbane tennis international. Hosts Angola and Mali draw 4-4 in the opening match of the African Cup of Nations, overshadowed by a terror attack on the Togo team bus in Cabinda killing three people. Togo' s team return home. Malawi beat Algeria 3-0. SA did not qualify.
