Fee income boosts Investec earnings

Investec bank and asset manager has reported an 18% rise in full-year profit, boosted by strong income from fees and commissions.

• Investec's Australia head to resign
• Investec first-half earnings down 15%
• Investec: Ratings downgrade little surprise

Japan shipbuilders to merge: report

Shares in Japan's Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding have surged following a report that it had started merger talks with Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

• Car industry still owned by whites
• Engineers deny collusion
• Japan gets the nod for mega trade pact

Nestlé Nigeria shares reach record high

Nestle Nigeria shares rose to an all-time high as investors anticipated a healthy year-end dividend.

• Nestle earnings up 8.9%
• Nestlé posts strong Q4 sales growth
• Nestlé to buy Pfizer baby food unit

Oceana rallies on trade update

Shares in Oceana‚ the owner of Lucky Star brand‚ have rallied as much as 8% to an intraday record before pulling back following a trading update.

• Oceana fined R35m for price-fixing
• Oceana in choppy waters
• Oceana to acquire Lusitania

Sovereign Foods earnings remain at 7c y/y

Poultry producer Sovereign Foods says it expects headline earnings per share and earnings per share to be 7c in the six months ended June 2012.

• Sovereign Foods earnings inch lower

Aspen: Earning to between rise 18%-24%

Aspen Pharmacare says that it expected its diluted normalised headline earnings per share from continuing operations to rise between 18% and 24% in the year ended June.

• Aspen buys GSK Aussie drugs for R2.2bn
• Drug firms win R2.5bn tender
• Aspen unit to buy drug portfolio from GSK

L'Oreal shares drop as results disappoint

Shares in L'Oreal have fallen sharply, a day after the cosmetics firm released disappointing first-half results.

• Ugly scandal may change L'Oreal
• L'Oreal heiress faces tax evasion probe
• France's richest woman files suit over secret tapes

Apple the world's most valuable company

Apple's surging stock propelled the company's value to $623bn, beating the record for market capitalisation set by Microsoft in the heady days of the internet boom.

• Samsung launches super-size Galaxy Note
• Samsung unveils new tablet
• Nokia, BlackBerry booming in SA

Bekker has R6bn Naspers shares - report

Naspers boss Koos Bekker is holding R6bn worth of Naspers N shares, according to the group’s recently released annual report.

• Naspers to ramp up e-commerce interests
• Naspers sets sights on growth
• Anyone up for being the goalie?

Shares fall as stimulus hopes fade

Asian shares fell as soft Chinese manufacturing data further undermined investor confidence and as hopes for bold stimulus action by central banks faded.

• Shares rise on guarded stimulus hopes
• Shares rebound on hopes for US stimulus
• Shares extend gains on stimulus hopes
• Shares fall as Spain worries intensify
• Shares steady, euro dips on Spain worries
• Shares inch up after China PMI

Foreigners cash in on SA shares

Foreigners were net buyers of R971.854m of South African shares in the week ended July 6 after net sales of R1.802bn of local shares the week before‚ according to the JSE.

• JSE picks up after slow start
• JSE tracks global markets weaker
• Uninspired start for JSE

JSE rises, eyes record high

South African stocks gained, with the All Share index hitting a record close as investors shrugged off a ratings outlook downgrade last week.

• Weaker rand lifts JSE
• JSE slips on Fitch downgrade
• JSE holds steady with eyes on Europe

Foreigners buy R1.3bn of SA shares

Foreigners were net buyers of R1.3bn of SA shares in the week ended December 30, after net sales of R1.553bn worth of local shares the week before.

• Cosatu: 80% of JSE white, capitalist-owned
• Foreigners scoop up SA bonds
• Foreigners snap up SA bonds
• SA's forex reserves lower
• New Year sees JSE follow East upwards
• JSE slips into red for 2011

Should I go active or stay passive?

A Fin24 reader wants to know whether he should appoint a stockbroker to manage his investments. Two experts on different sides of the industry advise.

• Hassle-free inheritance
• How to invest R1m
• Can I turn R1 000 into R1m?

African stock picks

Why consumer goods, not mining stocks are best for Africa exposure.

• Ramos calls for single African bourse
• JSE eyes platinum, Africa ETFs
• How to invest in the rest of Africa

Investec: Shares best of 'bad bunch'

As the slow economic grind continues, equities are the "best of a bad bunch", according to Investec Asset Management.

Are Saambou shares worth anything?

A Fin24 user wants to know whether his mom's Saambou shares still hold any value.

• Can I beat a policy penalty?
• Should I move my RA?
• Unlisted - and unloved

Cash in shares to buy a house?

A young investor has made some money through shares. Should he blow it on a more expensive house?

• Should we sell our second house?
• Is it time to buy a holiday home?
• Do I need help to invest?

JSE aims to speed up trading

The Johannesburg bourse will in future allow clients to locate servers closer to the exchange trading system to speed up trading.

• JSE ends sharply lower on resources
• JSE aims to woo more Africa listings
• SAFEX hits another technical glitch

Bull run to fall flat - analysts

The recent strong gains in share prices are unsustainable, some experts say

• Rand still overvalued: Gordhan
• Japan downgrade rattles currency markets
• Rich countries' woes in Davos spotlight

To my mind

FOR EVERY SHARE someone sells, there’s someone else who buys it. It’s probably safe to assume such contradictory decisions are based on different interpretations of the market – or different investment strategies.

Under wraps

WHEN IT COMES to packaging shares, Transpaco seems to fall between the cracks. It doesn’t carry the corporate clout of the gargantuan Nampak nor does it hold the “second line” appeal of Astrapak. Neither does it enjoy cult status of a specialist packager, such as Bowler Metcalf. Yet Transpaco – even though it doesn’t boast too much institutional investment backing – looks a cracking little operation that serves a number of very viable packaging niches throughout the paper and plastic sectors.