The value of outstanding credit balances in the South African household sector, amounting to R1 548,9 billion at the end of January 2018, showed growth of 3,7% year-on-year (y/y) over the 12-month period.

David Atkins, Chief Executive of Hammerson, said: “In recent years we have actively rebalanced the weighting of our portfolio towards high footfall destinations in major cities across the UK and Europe and this has underpinned our strong financial success at a time of on-going structural change in retail.

The value of outstanding credit balances in the South African household sector increased by 3,8% to R1 542,8 billion in 2017, up from a low of 0,7% in 2016.

South Africa’s economy has been revised down to grow at a rate of 0.5% in 2016, National Treasury said on Wednesday.

Middle-segment house price growth remains under downward pressure, according to ABSA.

Household credit and mortgage balances growth up on base effects .

Delays in opening new outlets in Zambia and Tanzania will not hold back Botswana’s grocer Choppies from achieving its 2016 growth target of operating 200 stores.

A proposed reshuffle of casino ownership in the Western Cape market, which would have secured gaming and hotel giant Tsogo Sun a hand, is taken off the table.

Leading JSE shopping centre REIT, Hyprop, has continued its formidable track record of strong returns with an exceptional 15% increase in total distributions for the year to 543 cents a share.

Economic activity in sub-Saharan Africa is predicted to remain robust at a 5% growth in 2013 and 6.2% in 2014, according to the International Monetary Fund's latest Regional Economic Report Outlook