Some of SA's remaining construction-related stocks managed to deliver positive news to the market on Tuesday, while mining heavyweights did the opposite. Kumba Iron Ore announced a profit rise, along with job cuts, on the same day Stats SA announced that unemployment numbers have picked up. Internationally, BHP has been hammered by exceptional items.
informed shareholders they can expect a between 35% and 45% rise in headline earnings per share for its six months to end-December, though it is feeling some pressure from higher finance costs. The high order book levels secured in Africa over the course of the previous reporting period translated into increased activity across all divisions, it said. Despite the elevated level of work executed over the period, the African order book has also been sustained. The businesses in the UK demonstrated an improved performance. However, the impact of persistent economic factors continues to hamper work procurement within certain sectors. Total operating profit is expected to increase by between 25% and 35