Global equities advanced during the first several months of the year as investors weighed continued policy stimulus and solid corporate earnings results against anaemic economic data.

BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE: BLK) has announced the appointment of Andrew MacKenzie as managing director and head of iShares Middle East and Africa.

The South African Revenue Service may raise understatement penalties if prejudice has been caused to it or the fiscus. Penalties can be imposed at 25% or 50% in the case of a ‘substantial understatement’.

The office of the ombudsman for long-term insurance received 9 592 complaints against long-term insurance companies in 2012, the highest ever and 4% more than in 2011, according to its latest annual report.

The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) expects CPI inflation to average 6.3% in the third quarter of 2013, before returning into the targeted 3% to 6% band in the fourth quarter.