Channel Africa Economy Newshttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/S.African c/act gap narrows to 0.6 pct of GDPhttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=cbee38a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default2011-03-222011-03-22South Africa's current account deficit narrowed sharply to 0.6 percent of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2010 from a revised 3.1 percent in the third quarter, the Reserve Bank said on Tuesday.http://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=cbee38a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=cbee38a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfricaWalmart competition hearings starthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=037a38a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default2011-03-222011-03-22The Competition Tribunal hearings into US retailer Walmart's acquisition of a controlling share in Massmart starts in Pretoria on Tuesday amid planned protests rejecting the deal.http://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=037a38a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=037a38a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfricaS.African current account deficit at 7-yr lowhttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=3ee138a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default2011-03-222011-03-22"Financial and economic conditions in the United States and in other advanced economies improved somewhat in the fourth quarter of 2010," the central bank said.http://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=3ee138a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=3ee138a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfricaGabon oil reforms to take time - Bongohttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=4c9d38a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default2011-03-222011-03-22http://www.channelafrica.org/CHANNELAFRICA/Home/English/News Images/Politics/Ali bongo's.jpgGabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba defied domestic pressure to quickly implement local labour quotas in the country's oil sector, saying on Monday the move could only be phased in with proper training.http://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=4c9d38a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=4c9d38a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfricaJapan impact on S.Africa probably limited -Mnyandehttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=4a5038a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default2011-03-222011-03-22The impact of Japan's nuclear crisis on South Africa's economy is likely to be limited but if it worsens it could hurt, Reserve Bank chief economist Monde Mnyande said on Tuesday.http://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=4a5038a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=4a5038a34bcde210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfricaTop businessman takes over Mcdonald's South Africahttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=44db4ea16d7ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default2011-03-182011-03-18http://www.channelafrica.org/CHANNELAFRICA/Home/English/News Images/Politics/Cyril-ramaphosa-1.jpgOne of South Africa's most prominent and politically connected businessmen is taking over all of the McDonald's restaurants in the country, McDonald's said.http://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=44db4ea16d7ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=44db4ea16d7ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfricaCongo: British oil firm cannot explore national parkhttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=e1814ea16d7ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default2011-03-182011-03-18Congo's government says it will not allow a British oil company to explore a protected national park in volatile eastern Congo, a decision welcomed by environmental campaigners who say the UNESCO world heritage site should be protected.http://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=e1814ea16d7ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=e1814ea16d7ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfricaHonda recalls civics, odysseys over fuel, wipershttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=1ced22dc597ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default2011-03-182011-03-18Honda Motor Co. said Thursday it is recalling new models of the Civic compact car and Odyssey minivan over leaking fuel tanks and faulty windshield wiper rods, respectively.http://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=1ced22dc597ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=1ced22dc597ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfricaS.Africa's rand extends gains to 2 pct vs dollarhttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=9aa70b998e3ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default2011-03-172011-03-17http://www.channelafrica.org/CHANNELAFRICA/Home/English/News Images/Economy/50 rand notes.jpgSouth Africa's rand extended gains against the dollar to over 2 percent on Thursday in a volatile session as overnight 3-week lows triggered selling interest from exporters.http://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=9aa70b998e3ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=9aa70b998e3ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfricaRaw deal" S.Africa looking at mine tax overhaulhttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=a1ef0b998e3ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default2011-03-172011-03-17South Africa is thinking about overhauling its minerals royalties regime to cash in on high commodity prices and may use Australia's controversial resources tax as a template, a minister said on Thursday.http://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=a1ef0b998e3ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=a1ef0b998e3ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfricaNigeria sells 60 bln naira in bonds, raises yieldhttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=da930b998e3ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default2011-03-172011-03-17Nigeria sold 60 billion naira ($383.3 million) in 5-year and 3-year sovereign bonds at its third debt auction of the year, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said on Thursday.http://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=da930b998e3ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica/menuitem.0440eb803775db47ee41ee41674daeb9/?vgnextoid=da930b998e3ce210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=defaulthttp://www.channelafrica.org/portal/site/ChannelAfrica