Business News Today
South African Rand at 40-Month High
The South African rand extended its rally to below 16.4 per USD, the currency’s strongest level since 8 August 2022. The emerging market currency has benefited from a surge in gold and platinum prices after the US military action in Venezuela escalated geopolitical tensions. Traders also weighed the potential for similar interventions threatened by President Trump in Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, Iran, and Greenland. Last year, the South African rand gained more than 10% against the US dollar, ranking among the best-performing emerging-market currencies, driven by dollar weakness, improving state finances, a lower inflation target, and high commodity prices. The currency is currently trading at R16.33 to the US dollar.
Nvidia Innovations Launched at CES 2026
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang officially launched their new Rubin computing chip architecture, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas yesterday. Huang said that the new processor architecture, was “state of the art in AI hardware”. The new architecture is currently in production and is expected to go into full production in the second half of 2026.“Vera Rubin is designed to address this fundamental challenge that we have: The amount of computation necessary for AI is skyrocketing.” Huang told the audience. “Today, I can tell you that Vera Rubin is in full production.”
The Rubin architecture, which was first announced in 2024, is the latest result of Nvidia’s relentless hardware development cycle, which has transformed Nvidia into the most valuable corporation in the world. Nvidia also launched Alpamayo, a new family of open source AI models, simulation tools, and datasets for training physical robots and vehicles that are designed to help autonomous vehicles reason through complex driving situations.
Rainfall Boosts Cocoa Crop Expectations
Unseasonal rains in Ivory Coast’s cocoa-growing regions last week, are expected to help boost the October-to-March main crop to finish strongly, farmers said yesterday. The top cocoa producer globally, is currently in its dry season, which runs from mid-November to March, when downpours are scarce. However, farmers said recent rains had improved prospects for cocoa trees to reach their maximum potential in February and March.
Breaking News Shorts:
- Samsung Electronics is expected to show a 160% jump in its 2025 fourth-quarter operating profit, boosted by an acute processor chip shortage globally. This has sharply driven up memory prices as customers such as data centres and computer manufacturers battle to meet booming demand for artificial intelligence advances and processing power demand.
- India’s BSE Sensex dropped 245 points, or 0.3% to 85,195 in morning trade today, extending losses from yesterday’s session as traders assessed the potential impact of new US tariffs. The Sensex and Nifty indexes also retreated after touching an intraday record on Monday, mainly weighed down by oil, gas, auto, and manufacturing shares.
- New vehicle sales in the United States climbed above 2% in 2025, defying extraordinary disruptions and changes in policy. Automakers sold 16.2 million vehicles in the U.S. last year, a 2.4% increase from 2024, according to research firm Omdia. Toyota and Hyundai both posted an 8% increase in sales in December.
- Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam grew 9.0% year-on-year to USD 27.62 billion in 2025, the highest level recorded in the past five years. By sector, the processing and manufacturing industry attracted USD 22.88 billion, accounting for 82.8% of total realized FDI.
- Copper futures have surged further, peaking above $6 per pound this morning, hitting new record highs, with expectations of further tightening in global supply this year. Traders are increasingly concerned about supply risks. Prices were also supported by strong global demand outlook, particularly from power grid upgrades, renewable energy projects, and data centre expansion.
Markets by Numbers
Currency markets indicate the US dollar weaker today, with the Euro trading against the US dollar at 1.17364 while the Pound is trading at 1.35528 to the US dollar. The Yen is currently trading at 156.32 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR) is strengthening further and currently trading at around R16.33 to the dollar.
Commodities:
- Gold futures have gained further momentum today heading towards record levels, and currently selling at around $4463.00 per ounce.
- Copper prices are trending over 1.4% higher today, with prices currently around $5.9924 after hitting new record high of over $6 per pound
- Silver futures are peaking towards new highs today, and currently trading around $78.959
- Platinum futures continue to surge this morning, up by 3% today, and currently trading at $2314.70, While Palladium prices have climbed by over 2% this morning, and currently trading around $1760.50 per ounce.
- Brent crude oil prices are trending lower today, and currently at $61.59 with WTI trading at $58.10
- Cocoa futures are trending higher, up over 3% today, and currently trading around $6077.00 per ton.
- Coffee futures are currently trending upward at around $3.5905 per pound
Crypto Currencies:
- Bitcoin prices are trending higher this morning, and trading at around $93636 per coin currently
- Ether prices are trending higher today, and are currently trading around $3219.15
- $Trumpcoin are trending upwards today, and currently trading around $5.583
(All prices quoted at approximately 07H50 Central African Time)
Africa News Briefs:
- The Ugandan security forces have been accused of torture and arbitrary arrests by Amnesty International, as the country heads toward elections on January 15. President Yoweri Museveni, 81, is seeking to extend his four-decade rule, amid growing claims that he is using force to silence the opposition.Amnesty says it has gathered evidence of security officers beating protesters and firing tear gas at supporters of the National Unity Platform, led by singer turned politician Bobi Wine, who previously challenged Museveni in the disputed 2021 election.
- The US has added seven countries, including five in Africa, to the list of nations whose passport holders are required to post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply to enter the United States. Thirteen countries, all but two of them in Africa, are now on the list, which makes the process of obtaining a US visa unaffordable for most.The State Department has added Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan to the list.
- Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera, (68) has won a third term in office, securing an outright majority in the presidential election held on December 28, provisional results from the electoral commission revealed Yesterday. The mathematician who first became president a decade ago, was enabled to stand for a third term after a constitutional referendum in 2023 scrapped the presidential term limit.
