The good news thread

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

 

But here's the good news. Our McDonald's Big Mac burgers are the world's fourth cheapest after Venezuela, Russia and the Ukraine, according to The Economist's Big Mac Index.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2016/01/13/More-Mac-for-your-buck

 

Had a discussion with a client over this yesterday. Her fears regarding the rand and the way it's spiralling. Our currency is SUPREMELY undervalued at this point in time.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

Going to put it back up when it's finalized. Good news, and pretty darn funny as well... 

Edited January 13, 2016 by Myles Mayhew

[Wannabe]

Karma, she's a bitch..........

[Tumbleweed]

Going to put it back up when it's finalized. Good news, and pretty darn funny as well... 

 

I think I may know what you are referring to...

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I think I may know what you are referring to...

You manage to read it before I edited? 

 

I just HAD to laugh. Really, really funny. 

[SwissVan]

 

But here's the good news. Our McDonald's Big Mac burgers are the world's fourth cheapest after Venezuela, Russia and the Ukraine, according to The Economist's Big Mac Index.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2016/01/13/More-Mac-for-your-buck

 

 

 

That's flippin great news...THANKS

 

[mazambaan]

Not really good news but amusing for the cynical:

 

"The economy is slowing, tax revenues are falling short, and the pressures on public spending just keep on growing..........."

 

Where you may ask?  The UK - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/economics/12095569/The-middle-class-is-in-for-a-tax-shock-as-George-Osborne-tries-to-hit-his-budget-target.html

[scotty]

"Bump"

 

CAPE TOWN – A Port Elizabeth man is cycling 6,000 kilometres to raise funds for anti-rhino poaching initiatives.

 

http://ewn.co.za/2016/01/22/PE-man-cycling-between-SANParks-to-save-rhinos

[droenn]

South Africa’s startups are turning out to be the silver lining in a struggling economy

 

http://qz.com/601736/theres-a-silver-lining-in-south-africas-startup-scene-even-as-the-economy-struggles/

[Tumbleweed]

http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2016/02/10/Bar-Fly-Theres-a-tavern-in-the-town

 

A city isn't a city until it has a church, a post office, a brothel and a watering hole. Early Jozi ticked all four boxes, and its old pubs are perfect to tell the story of the city, one round at a time.

That's the inspiration behind the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation's "historic pubs tour", which takes place this Saturday.

 

[Slowbee]

Had a discussion with a client over this yesterday. Her fears regarding the rand and the way it's spiralling. Our currency is SUPREMELY undervalued at this point in time.

so in the good news column, should one be taking money overseas now, or when the undervalue becomes value ?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

so in the good news column, should one be taking money overseas now, or when the undervalue becomes value ?

we should be taking money now, but not all of it. That would be irresponsible. But having offshore holdings for long term stability is a good thing. Just don't want to be caught in the same situation that we were in in 2002 when the ZAR recovered. And with the changes (hopefully) coming within the ANC, the recovery could be soon. Could also be in a year's time. We just don't know. 

 

But - don't take it all. 

[Andrew Steer]

This video (albeit a highlight reel) is a lekker reminder of what we do still have in this country...

 

[Tumbleweed]

This got a Monday morning smile. From ER24...

 

In a bizarre incident this afternoon a woman had to perform CPR on her husband after he was struck by lightning while standing next their vehicle in Bergville, KwaZulu Natal.

The couple, from Alberton in the South of Johannesburg, went away for their wedding anniversary to a resort in the Bergville area. According to the man’s wife they went for a drive shortly after it rained. While traveling on a small road the couple noticed an ‘amazing cloud with rays of sun burning through it’. They decided to pull over and her husband got out of the vehicle to take a picture of the cloud. According to the wife, her husband was standing on the driver’s side of the car with the door open. She was busy on her cell phone when she heard an overpowering bang. She immediately looked up and could not see her husband. She explained to paramedics that she immediately got out of the vehicle in search for her husband and found him lying next to the vehicle showing no signs of life.

The 56-year-old had an extensive burn wound to his left shoulder and around his neck. His wife explained that the top part of his shirt was completely torn to pieces and scattered around him. She said that she immediately phoned the resort where they were staying at and asked them to call an ambulance after giving them their approximate location.

She explained that her husband was not breathing and she could not find a pulse. She immediately started CPR on him while waiting for an ambulance. While performing CPR a taxi drove past and pulled over. An occupant from the taxi ran up to the woman and stated that she is a nurse and offered to help. They then performed CPR together. The woman explained that while they were performing CPR, more and more people from the taxi started to gather around them and started to sing and pray.

Shortly before paramedics from ER24 arrived on the scene the man regained a pulse and spontaneous breathing. Paramedics found the man sitting in the car complaining of only being nauseous and that he could not hear anything. The paramedics treated the man for his burn wounds and rushed him off to a hospital in Ladysmith for further care. Paramedics found the man’s neck jewellery in pieces next to the car. The car also had a deep dent on the roof, possibly due to the lighting strike.

The woman explained that they were planning the getaway for the weekend and would have returned to Johannesburg on Monday.

The man is currently in a stable condition in hospital and undergoing tests.

[Tumbleweed]

This is good news...

 

Coffee prices to remain stable 

Local price increases will be met by resistance from struggling consumers

 

14 March 2016: Despite fears that local coffee prices will drastically increase due to a shortage of beans from Brazil, coupled with the entrance of Starbucks into the local market, prices will remain stable and steadily increase at realistic levels.

 

Because South Africa is a net importer of coffee, the severe drought which affected Brazil last year, the largest coffee producer in the world, heightened fears that prices would increase due to global supply shortages. Brazil has since had a fair share of rain and is set to produce its largest harvest for the 2016/2017 season which will lead to lower coffee prices globally. 

 

Dawie Maree, Head of Information and Marketing at FNB Business, Agriculture says South Africa has not yet experienced supply challenges as we import most of our coffee beans from Eastern African countries which continue to increase yields and produce quality crops.

 

Maree cautions that lower global prices will not necessarily translate to coffee prices dropping in the country since there are a number of factors that affect the prices that retailers currently charge.

 

He says the competitive local coffee market has managed to keep prices low and affordable for a number of years. However, the industry is now faced with a double whammy when it comes to setting realistic coffee prices that consumers can afford and maintaining profit margins. 

 

Food price inflation, high input costs, low disposable incomes of consumers, coupled with the weak Rand which increases the price of imports is threatening the profit margins of local coffee retailers.

 

The entrance of coffee giant Starbucks which is anticipated to charge slightly higher prices is also creating uncertainty amongst some local coffee retailers who are already considering to review the prices they charge for a cup of coffee.

 

To make matters worse, if dairy farmers who are currently struggling to feed animals start running into production shortages, this may also increase the price of milk leading to coffee retailers paying even more for input costs.

 

Moreover, the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages which the government intends to introduce in April next year will add further strain to local coffee businesses leaving them with no choice but to increase the price of coffee in the long-term. 

 

Regardless of the current challenges, any attempts by the local coffee industry to increase prices in the short-term will likely be met by resistance from consumers who are already struggling to make ends meet in this tough economic environment.  As a result, the coffee industry will have no choice but to absorb costs in the short-term and gradually factor in increases, in order to remain relevant to consumers.

 

ENDS

 

For media queries, contact:

FNB Corporate Communications

[Uni]

This is good news...

 

Coffee prices to remain stable