VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Canada-based Bank of Nova Scotia witnessed a strong profit surge as banking activity in domestic and international operations rose. Scotiabank has increased provision for bad loans in the oil and gas sector. The bank is expanding in Mexico, Chile, Columbia and Peru.

A gamut of factors are affecting the South African economy as dwindling inflows of money, weaker currency, rising unemployment rate and severe drought conditions are at their worst in 25 years. South Africa's GDP growth rate is projected to slowdown further in 2016.

The gold buying demand from China is surging from last December onwards owing investors' priority to safe haven assets. The sluggish stock markets, weaker currency and lower global prices are prime reasons for the rising demand for the yellow metal. The consumption rose 3.7 percent to 985.9 metric tons in 2015.

The debt burden of South African farmers reached to over Rand 125 billion ($7.5 billion). The total debt of farmers was up 14 percent in 2015 to Rand117 billion. Economists alert that the prevailing slump in commodities markets, tighter monetary, fiscal policy, drought conditions and drop in value of Rand will trigger higher than expected inflation rate.