05 February 2010
	Another Week

AT HOME Factory output rose last month for the sixth month in a row, from 52,5 to 53,6 on the Kagiso purchasing managers' index. The index's jobs component rose 3,7 points to 51,9 - its first rise since April 2008. The JSE all share index was 1,23% higher on Tuesday, with resources up 2,79%, gold 2,18% higher and platinum up 4,71%. The rand was bid at R7,48/US$ and gold was quoted at $1 111,24/oz. Former police commissioner Jackie Selebi's corruption trial is postponed. The ANC defends President Jacob Zuma against criticism following reports that he fathered a child, now four months old, with Sonono Khoza (39), daughter of soccer boss Irvin Khoza. The Freedom Front Plus threatens "mass protests" during the 2010 World Cup if the name of Pretoria is changed. CPI inflation rose to 6,3% in December from 5,8% in November, breaching the 3%-6% target range for the first time since September. Eskom will need 30% less coal than expected to feed its power stations by 2018, says its generation business chief, Brian Dames. Arts & culture minister Lulu Xingwana approves proposed changes to 28 geographical names, among them Mafikeng to Mahikeng and Piet Retief to eMkhondo. Sheryl Cwele, the wife of state security minister Siyabonga Cwele, files for bail after being arrested on drug smuggling charges. ABROAD US BUDGET - President Barack Obama, flanked by treasury secretary Timothy Geithner and Office of Management and Budget director Peter Orszag, speaks about the government's US$3,8 trillion fiscal 2011 budget in Washington on Monday. It provides an additional $100bn for job creation, higher taxes for the wealthy, and a record budget deficit of $1,56 trillion - 10,6% of GDP - for this year. Stocks and commodity prices rise as oil and aluminum prices rally, with the Brazilian real and SA rand higher on optimism that an expanding global economy will increase demand for raw materials. Top bankers come out in favour of a global tax on banks to solve the too-big-to-fail problem. European Commission president Jose Barroso says the commission will support Greece's deficit-cutting plan. Former British prime minister Tony Blair tells the Chilcot inquiry into the UK's involvement in Iraq that the decision to invade was based on his judgment of the risk posed by Saddam Hussein's regime. The largest asset manager, BlackRock (US$3 350bn under management), reports a Q4 income jump to $875m ($784m) but expects a hard year ahead. Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa is declared winner of the first peacetime elections in 25 years, beating army chief Gen Sarath Fonseca. Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveils the iPad, a touch-screen tablet computer with a 9,7-inch display, 0,7 kg in weight and 10 hours of battery life. SPORT Roger Federer wins the Australian Open, his 16th grand slam title, beating Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (11). Serena Williams beats Justine Henin 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 to win the women's title. The Proteas under Graeme Smith arrive in India for a two-test, three-ODI series. Egypt beat Ghana 1-0 to win the African Nations Cup for the third successive time.