S.Africa Feb PPI slows to +9.5 percent yr/yr

(Reuters) - South Africa's producer price inflation slowed to 9.5 percent year-on-year in February after a 9.8 percent increase in January, below forecasts, official data showed on Thursday.

On a monthly basis, PPI decreased by 0.1 percent after a 0.4 percent increase in January.


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Stocks rise, oil slips

(Reuters) - Shares in RF Micro Devices Inc. are in focus after the maker of analog chips used in mobile phones confirmed its fourth-quarter results guidance, but said a shortfall in demand from a key customer will hurt its first-quarter results.

Shares of the company fell nearly 6 percent to $6.67, after closing at $7.07 on the Nasdaq on Wednesday.


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European stocks higher on M&A, upbeat Compass leads

(Reuters) - European shares rose on Thursday as M&A activity helped investors overcome worries about the U.S. economy, while Compass, the world's biggest caterer, led gainers after a strong trading statement.

At 0823 GMT, the FTSEurofirst 300 index was up 0.6 percent. Germany's DAX, France's CAC 40 and Britain's FTSE 100 gained between 0.6 and 0.7 percent.


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FTSE rises amid upbeat earnings, M&A hopes

(Reuters) - Britain's FTSE 100 index of leading shares traded 0.4 percent higher on Thursday, as a clutch of stocks rose on upbeat results, and M&A hopes helped buoy sentiment.

Leading the index, Compass, the world's biggest caterer, jumped 4.3 percent after saying trading in the first five months of the year had been ahead of its expectations and the sale of its European vending business was progressing.


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Rand a tad weaker, to remain pressure

(Reuters) - South Africa's rand was slightly weaker against the dollar on Thursday and traders said the currency would remain under pressure if offshore selling and risk aversion towards emerging markets continued.

The rand fell more than 1.4 percent in Johannesburg's late trade as comments by U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke about the uncertainty of the U.S. economic outlook prompted a sell-off of high risk assets such as the rand.


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Wall St indexes fall as Bernanke, data, oil weigh

(Reuters) - U.S. stocks ended lower on Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said he was uncomfortable with inflation and uncertain about the economy, compounding the impact of a weak durable goods report.

Escalating tensions between Iran and the West also kept investors on edge and boosted crude oil prices nearly 2 percent.


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World Bank to help Brazil export ethanol technology

(Reuters) - The World Bank can help Brazil export its technology for making sugar-cane ethanol to developing countries in Africa and elsewhere, the Bank's vice-president for Latin America said on Wednesday.

"Brazil sees (sharing technology) as a way of helping to build an ethanol market in the world," Pamela Cox told Reuters in an interview. "As projects come up, we have a private sector arm that can help."


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