Business News Today
Inflation In South Africa Edges up on Higher Utilities and Food Increases
South Africa’s annual inflation rate ticked up to 3.4% in September 2025 from 3.3% in August, slightly below market forecasts of 3.5%. It remains within the official South African Reserve Bank’s target range of 3%-6%. Price growth accelerated primarily for housing & utilities (4.5% vs 4.3% in August), largely on account of electricity and gas and water supply; restaurants & hotels (3% vs 2.6%) and miscellaneous goods & services (2.8% vs 2.6%). At the same time, transportation costs declined at a slower pace (-0.1% vs -1.4%), of which fuels (-2.2% vs -5.7%). Meanwhile, food prices (4.5% vs 5.2%) recorded the smallest increase in five months. The core inflation rate, which excludes food, non-alcoholic beverages, fuel, and energy, inched up to a seven-month high of 3.2% in September 2025, from 3.1% in the prior month. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.2% in September, following a 0.1% decrease in the prior month.
Amazon Activates Pedal Power Deliveries in Europe and the US
Also, the micro-mobility startup that was spun out of AutoTech Group Rivian, has landed a major commercial deal with Amazon to supply the e-commerce company with thousands of its new TM-Q pedal-assisted electric cargo quad vehicles, that are big enough to carry more than 400 pounds of packages and small enough to use a bike lane. Under the multi-year collaboration, the two companies will work on customizing the pedal-assist vehicles to meet Amazon’s delivery needs in Europe and the United States. The TM-Q pedal-assist electric quads are set to launch around April in 2026, according to Also. The new vehicles were revealed on Wednesday at an event in Oakland alongside the company’s new e-bike called the TM-B.
Copper Sees Gains on Supply Concerns
Copper futures rose toward $5 per pound on Thursday, extending gains from the previous session as a series of supply disruptions continued to support prices. About 80 miners were trapped following a partial collapse at a mine in Dominican Republic. Traders also continued to assess the impact of halted activity in Indonesia’s massive Grasberg mine and recent disruptions at Codelco’s El Teniente underground copper mine in Chile. Meanwhile, investors kept an eye on US-China trade relations ahead of an expected meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea next week. Markets also awaited signals from the ongoing Fourth Plenum in Beijing amid optimism for fresh stimulus to bolster demand from the world’s top metals consumer.
Gold Loses Some Shine
Gold prices fell to around $4,080 per ounce on Thursday, extending its decline for a third straight session amid continued selling pressure after repeatedly hitting record highs in recent weeks. The metal is now about 6% below its peak, following its largest weekly drop in more than five years. Adding downward weight, optimism over a potential US-China trade deal, ahead of talks between Presidents Trump and Xi Jinping and combined with Trump’s recent more conciliatory remarks toward China, has reduced gold’s safe-haven allure. Nevertheless, gold is still up roughly 55% for the year and over 5% this month, supported by expectations that the Federal Reserve will implement two additional rate cuts by year-end. Geopolitical tensions also continue to provide aid, following the US announcement of fresh sanctions on Russia, coming after reports that the planned Trump-Putin summit was postponed after Moscow refused a Ukraine ceasefire.
Breaking News Shorts:
- Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella’s enjoyed a $96.5 million salary in the group’s 2025 financial year, his highest compensation since he became CEO in 2014, with the board awarding his contribution towards the company’s progress in artificial intelligence development. his compensation includes Microsoft shares and a $2.5 million salary.
- Tesla’s latest quarterly results indicate that the global EV manufacturer’s revenue for the three months to the end of September hit a record $28bn (£21bn), up 12% from the same time last year. Profits however fell by 37% for the same period, due to extra costs linked to tariffs and research costs.
- Shell Oil has applied for the right to appeal against the decision of a South African high court to block exploration in the offshore block 5/6/7. According to a Shell spokesperson yesterday, “Shell is of the view that the High Court judgment misinterprets the National Environmental Management Act, imposes practical and operational constraints outside of the Act and incorrectly expands the scope by conflating exploration with production.”
- Indian BSE Sensex index rose 770 points, or 0.9%, to 85,196 in morning trade today, extending gains from the Muhurat “special” trading day on Tuesday and hitting its highest level since September 26, 2024, buoyed by renewed foreign inflows. Meanwhile, the Nifty 50 rose above the milestone mark of 26,000.
Markets by Numbers
Currency markets indicate the US dollar strengthening, with the Euro trading against the US dollar at 1.15985 while the Pound is trading at 1.33409 to the US dollar. The Yen is currently trading at 152.32 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR) is currently at R17.43 to the US dollar.
Commodities:
- Gold futures prices are trending lower this morning, after a big drop in prices yesterday, and are currently trading around $4097.00per ounce.
- Copper prices have gained more traction today, with prices currently around $4.9747
- Silver futures prices are trading upwards after a dip yesterday, and currently trading around $48.726
- Platinum futures continue gaining traction this morning, and currently trading at $1569.60, While Palladium prices have dropped by – 1.7% this morning also after a steep drop yesterday, and are currently trading around $1448.00 per ounce.
- Brent crude oil prices have seen a 3.7% spike today, and currently at $64.90 with WTI trading lower at $60.78
- Cocoa futures are surging and up by over 6% today, and currently trading around $6298 per ton.
- Coffee futures have made further gains today, and are currently trading at around $4.2395 per pound
Crypto Currencies:
- Bitcoin prices have found some traction today, and currently trading at around $108861 per coin
- Ether prices have seen upwards momentum today, and are currently trading around the $3840.16 mark
- $Trumpcoin is trending upwards today, and currently trading around $5.76
(All prices quoted at approximately 07H50 Central African Time)
Africa News Briefs:
- Gabon Won’t Restructure Debt: Gabon’s Vice President, Alexandre Barro Chambrier, has confirmed that the country will not consider any national debt restructuring, and is in the process of rebasing its calculations of GDP, which will make its debt-to-GDP ratio more favourable, according to Reuters.
- Nigerian lawmakers investigate aid grant concerns: Yesterday saw Nigerian authorities launch an investigation into how $4.6 billion in international aid grants between 2021 and 2025 was used, saying the money had failed to prevent high mortality rates from HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
- Angola’s first major copper mine to commence production: , Tetelo, Angola’s new copper mine will soon begin production, Mines Minister Diamantino Azevedo said yesterday.The $250 million mine, owned by China’s Shining Star Icarus, is expected to produce 25,000 metric tons of copper concentrate annually in the first two years of operation.
- Egypt’s Suez Canal Authority has announced yesterday that it had signed a $2 billion strategic partnership agreement with Anchorage Investments to establish a petrochemical complex in Ain Sokhna, Egypt.The first phase of the project aims to primarily produce polypropylene along with hydrogen.
