Court victory – taxpayers beat Sars

Taxpayers have scored a victory over the South African Revenue Service (Sars). A Supreme Court of Appeal decision has put millions of rands back into businesses.

In a judgment that has important implications for franchise businesses and others that pay for the continual use of trademarks and other intellectual property, the Supreme Court of Appeal has held that royalty payments are tax-deductible in terms of the Income Tax Act.

Read more at Moneyweb.co.za

One price ADSL service on the cards

Telkom is planning a new product which may introduce a one-price ADSL service and signal the end of the current system where various ADSL components are purchased separately.

While Telkom does not want to disclose details about a single price ADSL product, Lulu Letlape, group executive for corporate communication, said that "Telkom can confirm that we are working on such a product, but cannot divulge further details."

Read more at MoneyWeb.co.za

Gold and silver off 1-week low; investors cautious

Gold rose above $646 anounce Thursday to track a rebound in crude oil but investorsremained cautious after the previous day's drop, even withlittle changed in terms of fundamentals.

Jewellers from India and Thailand bought gold at lowerlevels, although the price rebound also encouraged lightselling in Singapore. Other precious metals firmed, with silvermoving away from Wednesday's one-week low.

Read more at Reuters South Africa

S.Africa Top-40 up 1.5 pct after Asia, US recover

South Africa's blue chip Top-40 index rose 1.5 percent in early trade on Thursday, boosted by mining stocks and mobile phone group MTN after U.S. and Asian markets recovered.

Read more at Reuters South Africa

Shanghai copper up 1.4 percent, LME resilient

Shanghai copper prices rallied 1.4 percent on Thursday, supported by resilience in London futures despite turbulent equity markets.

The most active May contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange was 830 yuan, or 1.43 percent higher, at 58,970 yuan a tonne at the close, encouraged by gains in London futures despite turmoil in equities.

Read more at Reuters South Africa

The "True" Cost of Stock Options

How to value employee stock options (ESO)? This is possibly the central issue in the debate on whether these options should be expensed. According to basic accounting rules, if a value can be placed on this form of compensation, it should be expensed. Proponents of expensing employee stock options say there are many models that can be used to place a value on options.

Opponents argue these models are not applicable to employee stock options. This article will take a look at the argument of the opponents and then explore the possibility of a different approach to determining the cost of employee stock options.

Read more at investopedia.com

Record R34m for Clifton pad

A British businessman forked out a hefty R34m for an exclusive Clifton apartment, the most ever paid for a flat in South Africa.

The previous record was R28m for an apartment in the same complex - the Eventide development in Victoria Road, which runs along the beach. It is the newest development in Clifton with only 30 super-luxurious apartments.

Read more at FIN24.co.za