News 13:00

BULLETIN 11 October 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# BetterBond predicts another interest rate cut in November
# Calls for enhanced private sector involvement and reforms in Sout Africa’s port operations
# And cricket: England hands Pakistan an innings defeat in the first Test in Multan

# BetterBond says during the third quarter of this year, the number of home loan applications increased by 4.5-percent quarter-on-quarter and by a more modest 1.6-percent, compared to the third quarter of last year. BetterBond’s national head of sales, Bradd Bendall, says with inflation now below the mid-point of the South African Reserve Bank’s target range of 3- to 6-percent, a further rate cut is widely expected in November:

# The Southern African Association of Freight Forwarders says the recent court ruling on the Durban Container Terminal Pier Two, underscores the pivotal role of robust private sector participation in the country’s logistics network. The High Court in Durban interdicted Transnet’s deal with Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services International, for the upgrade, expansion and operation of the terminal. The association’s Jacob van Rensburg says this is an opportunity to revamp and fortify the frameworks for private sector investment and inter-port competition:

# Former US president Barack Obama has urged Americans to vote for vice-president Kamala Harris next month, saying the country does not need another four years of Donald Trump. He made his first appearance on the campaign trail for Harris, speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania. The presidential election is expected to be determined by a handful of states, including Pennsylvania. Obama denounced his successor as a selfish politician who only cared about his ego, money and status:

# Cricket: England beat Pakistan by an innings and 47 runs in the first Test in Multan. The hosts posted a very good 556 in their first innings, but then Harry Brook and Joe Root took control, contributing a triple-century and a double-century, respectively. England captain Ollie Pope only declared on a mammoth 823 for seven. Pakistan could only reply with a second-inning score of 220. The second Test starts on the same field on Tuesday, followed by the final one in Rawalpindi from the 24th.

# The financial indicators: The dollar trades at 17-rand-45-cents and the euro at 19-rand-11-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-82-cents and Bitcoin trades at 60-thousand-889-dollars-86-cents. Gold sells at two-thousand-638-dollars-79-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 78-dollars-35-cents a barrel.

# And finally: Taylor Swift has donated almost 88-million-rand to help those affected by Hurricane Milton, as the deadly storm smashed into the Florida coast. The American megastar with a reported fortune of more than 28-billion-rand, gave the money to the non-profit, Feeding America. Swift is due to play in Miami next week on the final run of her record-breaking Eras Tour. Country musicians including Keith Urban, Luke Combs and Eric Church will stage a benefit concert later this month in North Carolina, for people affected by hurricanes, Helene and Milton.

Stay tuned for more news………….