ANALYSIS NEWS ON FASTMOVING

Jan. 25 (Bloomberg) -- The world’s best-performing consumer stocks have become the lowest-rated by analysts after valuations of South African retailers and food producers climbed to the most expensive levels on record. read more

Growth in SA’s retail trade sales at constant (2008) prices for September is expected to lose momentum to a decrease of 6.5% year on year (y/y), from a y/y growth of 7.1% in August, according to a survey of leading economists by BusinessLIVE. read more

Trade and Industry Minister, Rob Davies, says SA stands to accelerate its share of exports with South America’s largest economies, through a free-trade agreement with Mercosur due to come into force next year read more

France may lose its place as the second-biggest wheat exporter after failing to win more than a dozen tenders in Egypt, the world’s biggest buyer, as shipments from Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan overwhelm markets. read more

Research firm Informa Telecoms & Media says one fifth of internet traffic in Africa will be carried by cellular networks by 2015 read more

The wool market largely maintained its price levels at this week's sale, with Cape Wools' Merino indicator closing the day down by a marginal 0.6% at R103.39/kg (clean).  read more

An increasing number of organisations are improving their service delivery performance by enhancing and expanding outsourcing and shared service efforts globally, according to new research.  read more

Kellogg Company has vowed to "improve interaction with suppliers" after posting disappointing third quarter financial results. read more

But analysts are concerned about discrepancies between Statistics SA’s quarterly labour force survey and its quarterly employment survey read more

Heineken NV, the world’s third- biggest brewer by volume, reported revenue growth that beat estimates as sales in western Europe fell less than expected. read more

Global worries about food price inflation should be receding as wheat supplies are plentiful. Warehouse stocks are at their highest in years, producers have been reporting bumper crops and prices are falling sharply. read more

At a time when the world is facing its biggest sugar glut in at least four years, trade barriers mean the European Union is contending with a second consecutive annual shortage. read more

Trade relations between SA, India and Brazil have improved significantly despite the global economic recession, according to Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, at a business forum on Tuesday.  read more

China's rapid economic growth eased in the latest quarter to a still-robust 9.1 percent amid government efforts to prevent overheating. read more

SA consumers are likely to remain financially vulnerable for some time, given that current factors leading to their financial vulnerability have not changed, Professor Carel van Aardt from University of SA's Bureau of Market Research (BMR) says. read more

Manufacturing output surged unexpectedly in August after a sharp fall in July, but the rebound was not seen as a sign of a significant turnaround in the sector. read more

Recruitment and research company Adcorp yesterday reported modest profit for the six months to August in spite of companies' reluctance to hire this year as the possibility of an economic slowdown rears its head.  read more

Brands (in the UK) are altering their pack designs to adapt to changes in consumer behaviour due to continued economic uncertainty, according to an industry expert. read more

Windows of opportunity are opening up for Africa, according to Standard Bank researcher Simon Freemantle. At a presentation in Johannesburg yesterday, he said South African companies, which had already invested $15 billion (R124.3bn) in the rest of the continent, stood to gain if their corporate strategies were aligned to the major trends. read more

SABMiller "unlikely" to be bought by AB InBev because of the potential cost of exiting joint ventures, and the price of a takeover according to London analyst. read more

Johannesburg - Rising inflation and the slowing pace of economic growth in emerging markets will cloud the outlook of these countries for years to come, the Business Report on Thursday quoted South African Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus as saying. read more

Johannesburg - Clover Industries [JSE:CLR], a branded consumer goods and beverages group operating in South Africa and other selected African countries, on Monday restated its diluted headline earnings per share from continuing operations to 67.3 cents for the six months ended December 2010, from a previously stated 72.8 cents. read more

A recent research paper by the UK government's foresight panel indicated that the number of human traders around the world may drop sharply in the near future. The report said more than a third of all UK trading and nearly three-quarters in the US were generated by high-frequency automated computer programs.  read more

The consumer inflation index - the measure used by the Reserve Bank for its inflation target - is expected to tick up to 5.5% year-on-year in August from 5.3% in July. read more

Innova Market Insights reports that confectionery was the leading food and drinks sector in terms of global launch activity in the first half of 2011. This occurred despite the industry having a rough ride in 2010, as a result of rising prices in the wake of increasing raw material costs, particularly for cocoa and sugar.  read more

Manufacturing and mining output both plunged in July, reflecting a wave of strikes during the month and highlighting weakness in both sectors .  read more

Johannesburg - Growth in credit demand from South Africa's private sector ticked up to 5.65% year-on-year (y/y) in July from a slightly revised 5.28% in June, central bank data showed on Tuesday read more

Johannesburg - Branded consumer products group AVI [JSE:AVI] on Monday reported a 31.1% rise in diluted headline earnings per share (Heps) from continuing operations to 239.7 cents for the year ended June 2011, from 182.9c a year ago. Heps from continuing operations was up 31% to 248c.  read more

Banking group Absa says that credit demand figures released by Statistics SA confirms banks had a tough task ahead convincing customers to borrow read more

Johannesburg - Statistics South Africa said on Thursday producer inflation, which represents domestic output, quickened to 8.9% year-on-year (y/y) in July from 7.4% in June. read more

Results point to market share gains, possible early indications of improved consumer environment; positive sales update for first 8 weeks of the new financial year. read more

Cape Town - The massive volumes of freight being moved across South Africa by road rather than rail came under the spotlight in Parliament on Tuesday.  read more

Income from freight transportation for June 2011 increased by 6.9% compared with June 2010 to 6.7 billion rand, data released on Monday by Statistics South Africa showed. read more

Johannesburg - A median of 16 economists polled by Reuters is for South African consumer inflation to quicken to 5.2% year-on-year (y/y) in July from 5% in June.  read more

Target Corp, the second-largest U.S. discount retailer, posted a 3.7 percent gain in second- quarter profit that surpassed analysts’ estimates, driven by higher sales and reduced costs.  read more

Johannesburg - Growth in South Africa’s retail sales quickened to 2.2% year-on-year at constant prices in June from an upwardly revised 0.2% in May, Statistics South Africa said on Wednesday. read more

Johannesburg - The vehicle manufacturing industry is expecting sales growth to slow as the second half of 2011 looks set to be more difficult than the first, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa) said on Tuesday. read more

Absa Capital economist Gina Schoeman said June's retail sales figure would be keenly watched because it provided the final piece of the second quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) picture.  read more

Nestle SA’s biggest acquisition in China is giving traders a chance to reap a 23 percent profit without the risk of losing any money on the deal.  read more

South Africans should brace themselves as commodity and food prices are expected to be a lot higher next year, driven mainly by unreliable weather, the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy says.  read more

Global instability in financial markets and major economies will knock consumer confidence in South Africa, hitting retail sales and bringing the spectre of a recession ever closer.  read more

The Simondium bottling plant of FirstCape Vineyards, the biggest exporter of SA wine to the UK, stands idle, with 25 workers laid off.  read more

Coming off record results in its fiscal 2011, food maker H.J. Heinz is counting on growth in emerging markets to help it add to its bottom line. read more

South Africa's confectionery sales climbed over 19 percent between 2006 and 2010, notes a recent overview of the country’s sweets and chocolate market by Leatherhead Food Research. Value sales of sugar confectionery, gum and chocolate in South Africa were worth R10.44bn in 2010, it says, adding market growth has been helped by World Cup 2010. read more

Prices at SA’s factories, mines and farms rose faster than expected last month, but the trend was viewed as unlikely to feed rapidly into consumer inflation, official data showed yesterday. read more

SA's purchasing managers' index (PMI), a reliable health gauge for the sector, plunged to 44,2 last month from 53.9 in June -- a two-year low read more

Against apparel industry-wide concerns about higher cotton and other cost pressures eating into profit margin, Jones Group Inc. said it has a “strong handle” over the cost situation and sees some bright spots.  read more

Foreign investors have a love affair with SA retailers. So much so that they have built their combined holding across the retail sector to well over a third of its R250bn market capitalisation. It’s not hard to find why foreigners are smitten. For their money they get emerging market exposure through some of the world’s best-managed retailers, which generate returns that leave most of their First-World counterparts in the shade. read more

Johannesburg - South Africa is not benefiting from "global value chains", but Walmart's acquisition of Massmart Holdings offers some hope, Professor Stephen Gelb of the University of Johannesburg said on Tuesday. read more

Considering the lack of globalization, South African retail companies, particularly their food retailers, are large in comparison to other retailers around the world. Between the release of the Global Powers of Retailing 2010 report and the 2011 report, Shoprite Holdings rocketed from a global ranking of 130 into the 95th position. That would be impressive movement compared to [retailers in other countries], but such upward movement on the global retailing stage is truly impressive.  read more

July 21, 2011 - With growing concerns about the economy, job prospects and rising costs, South African consumers lost confidence in the second quarter of 2011 to an index level of 86, according to Nielsen’s quarterly online Global Consumer Confidence Survey.  read more

Retail group Massmart Holdings said on Monday it is expecting headline earnings per share of between 397c and 442.4c for the 52 weeks to June 26 2011. read more

The decision by the SA Reserve Bank's Monetary Policy Committee to leave interest rates unchanged at its third meeting for 2011 comes as relief to financially-distressed consumers, says Absa Retail Bank Chief Executive Gavin Opperman. read more

The increase in South Africa's consumer price index (CPI), which is used by the SA Reserve Bank (Sarb) for its inflation target, was 5.0% year on year (y/y) in June from 4.6% y/y in May, Statistics SA said on Wednesday.  read more

Johannesburg, Tuesday, 19 July 2011. Today, the Brazilian Poultry Association (UBABEF), in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) addressed members of the South African food and retail sector, at a seminar entitled “Brazil: A World Leader in Poultry Production.” read more

As the People’s Republic is entering a “whack-a-mole” phase — where unrest and economic pressures keep rearing its head in different places — it makes it hard to predict whether or not China’s volatility over a strained economy will result in a major meltdown in Chinese stocks. The country has weathered storms before and bounced back. read more

South Africa's government needs to do more to support the country's vital manufacturing sector, which is only "coping" with the pressures it is under, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said on Wednesday. read more

South African retailer Woolworths Holdings said on Tuesday it expects full-year earnings to rise by as much as 30 percent, helped by a recovery in consumer spending in Africa's top economy. read more

Former CEO of Marks & Spencer is appointed nonexecutive director read more

Johannesburg - Retailer Woolworths Holdings has reported group sales increased 9.4% for the year ended June 26 2011, with sales in comparable stores up 6.3%. read more

South Africa’s biggest food retailer Shoprite Holdings is likely to miss full-year sales forecasts, it said on Monday, sending its shares down more than 2% and underscoring growing worries that a recovery in consumer spending does not match high valuation multiples read more

There has been a “notable” improvement in business conditions in the retail sector during the first quarter of 2011, according to the Bureau for Economic Research's (BER) retail survey, which was released on Thursday.  read more

‘Stop-go’ economy preventing SA from realising growth potential. A wave of strikes across SA’s manufacturing industries is likely to curb growth in the economy this year and discourage job creation — and could force small businesses to close down, costing more jobs. Union demands for double- digit pay hikes are also leading to wage settlements high enough to force producers to raise prices, which may keep inflation above its official target range next year. read more

Up to now marketing strategies employed traditional methods such as print, television, radio and online media to get people to buy their products. But US marketing research found that in one week over 110 million households walked into Walmart stores, while less than 70 million watched the news on TV, says Marc Ducnuigeen, president international of the Integer Group (part of TBWA\Worldwide). read more

Is the same food consumed differently in the townships and the suburbs? TNS in association with The Alternative Consultancy invite you to participate in a study that will give you the answers you have been looking for. read more

Tighter margins and the constant need to reduce costs is placing enormous pressure on FMCG companies, who not only now compete in an environment of intense global competition, but who also need to shift fresh goods across an increasingly complex and often disjointed global supply chain. read more

Retailers can successfully shape perceptions about their brand by creating and executing marketing programs with the same creativity and discipline as manufacturers. In its journey to rebuild its brand in a differentiated and relevant manner, Walgreens has achieved milestones that offer other retailers important lessons in brand building. Kim Feil, CMO, Walgreens describes the practices that helped rebuild the brand. read more

SOUTH African retailers are revolutionising consumer shopping habits across Africa, changing the way consumers shop and what they buy. read more

The latest footfall data from Synovate Retail Performance post further disappointing news for retailers. The UK Retail Traffic Index (RTI), the national indicator of non-grocery store footfall, shows that shopper numbers fell by 4.0% in May against the same month of 2010. Against April, there was a 3.4% decline. read more

"The same culture that drove our growth during our first 50 years can drive our growth for the next 50 years," Mike Duke, CEO of Walmart Stores, addressed attendees last week at the 2011 Walmart Shareholders Meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas.  read more

Edcon, the owner of Edgars, Jet and CNA, will continue to be conservative in its credit granting policy, unlike competitors who have become, in a low interest rate environment, more aggressive in pushing credit. read more

Massbuild offers three brands targeting homeowners, building contractors, subcontractors and do-it-yourself enthusiasts. read more

Rogers, Arkansas - As Walmart expands its international business, the company wants to bring ideas from Massmart Holdings [JSE:MSM] to other markets, company executives said on Thursday. read more

The Competition Tribunal today announced that the Walmart and Massmart merger can proceed to finality and has accepted the conditions proposed by Walmart and Massmart, which include the set-up of a R100 million supplier development fund, no merger-related retrenchments for a period of two years as well as continued recognition of SACCAWU for three years post the merger. read more

Pretoria - South Africa’s economy grew by 4.8% in the first quarter of 2011 on a seasonally adjusted and annualised basis, compared with a revised 4.5% expansion in the fourth quarter of 2010, data showed on Tuesday. read more