Rand hit by Moody's; SpaceX tourist ploy; Musk-Gates electric spat; Glencore; Ecsponent

Loading player...
In today's business headlines:
* South Africa’s rising country risk is putting upward pressure on interest rates, even as inflation expectations decline, with credit-rating companies contributing to the negative sentiment, according to the central bank, says Bloomberg. The rand fell through R15 to the dollar as the news was absorbed;
* Elon Musk’s SpaceX will fly up to four paying customers aboard its Crew Dragon under an agreement that opens the way for private space tourism;
* Musk is having a Twitter spat with Microsoft founder Bill Gates, as he is disappointed after Gates bought a Porsche Taycan instead of a Tesla electric car. A Taycan exploded in a Florida garage this week, so perhaps Gates is having second thoughts;
* Climate change and rock-bottom gas prices are taking a toll on Glencore’s coal business, but it's not going to cut loose from the energy source as BHP and Anglo American are planning to do;
* Apple shares fell on Tuesday after the company confirmed that the coronavirus crisis has knocked its sales targets this quarter;
* Investors look set to lose millions as Ecsponent, a company listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, runs into trouble. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
18 Feb 2020 12PM English South Africa Investing · Business News

Other recent episodes

Helen Zille: “Johannesburg is on the brink of collapse” — Inside her plan to save SA’s biggest city

Helen Zille says Johannesburg’s crisis is far worse than she imagined, warning the city faces financial collapse, crumbling infrastructure, and coalition chaos. In this wide-ranging interview, she outlines her plan to restore water, electricity, roads, and investor confidence while exposing deep governance failures, corruption, and “last lap looting” inside the…
22 May 2AM 33 min

BN Daybreak - Fri 22 May 2026: Zille slams Joburg budget; Roodt on Crypto; Hoatson urges pushback; and Gupta delays

In today's BizNews Daybreak, we cover the latest business and political updates. On the international front, US-Iran tensions escalate over Strait of Hormuz tolls, while SpaceX scrubs its 12th Starship test mission. Locally, Helen Zille warns of Johannesburg’s collapsing municipal budget and failing infrastructure, economist Dawie Roodt discusses Treasury's futile…
21 May 11PM 15 min

Jacques Broodryk - AfriForum goes after the elusive Guptas…

AfriForum has asked the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Andy Mothibi, for an urgent update on the much delayed extradition of the Guptas who allegedly benefited from State Capture to the tune of between R50 and R70 billion. In this interview with Chris Steyn, Jacques Broodryk, AfriForum’s Chief Spokesperson:…
21 May 5AM 9 min