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Business confidence edged up slightly in the first quarter, but it's still weak. The RMB/BER Business Confidence Index increased slightly by two points from 38 points in the last quarter of last year to 40 points in the first quarter. This means 60 percent of respondents are unhappy with the prevailing business environment. Below 50 points mean negative sentiment and above 50 means positive.For more news, visit: http://www.sabc.co.za/news

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SABC News actuality world news local news RMB/BER Business Confidence Index Gauteng Show More employment field trade work bag biz calling career craft dodge function game line livelihood occupation pursuit racket specialty vocation métier what one is into entertainment fun pastime amusement avocation hobby recreation surrender unemployment firm shop corporation partnership factory store venture house organization institution market cartel monopoly setup outfit syndicate mill trust establishment concern Mom and Pop fly-by-night operation megacorp shoestring operation transaction deal industry trading manufacturing selling exchange undertaking bargaining dealings traffic barter free enterprise affairs merchandising commercialism contracts sales industrialism buying and selling capital and labor problem issue interest duty task affair happening point assignment question topic matter responsibility lookout palaver subject hanky-panky beeswax carrying on goings-on irresponsibility action activity agility alacrity alertness animation ballgame big idea bit business bustle commotion dash energy enterprise flurry force functioning going haste hoopla hopper in the works life liveliness motion movement operation plan power process proposition reaction response rush scene spirit stir stunt trip turmoil vigor vim vitality vivacity rest yielding peace harmony slowness dullness stoppage inertia cessation indolence stiffness weakness stillness repose quiet calmness calm apathy lethargy laziness inaction inactivity idleness bargain arrangement bond compact contract convention covenant engagement negotiation pact pledge promise stipulation treaty understanding break misunderstanding disagreement rip-off art day gig gig handicraft hang lifework metier mission nine-to-five play province rat race slot swindle walk of life capital IRA cash estate finances financing fortune funds gold interests investment kitty means money nest egg principal property resources savings stake stock substance treasure ways and means wealth wherewithal small debt poverty clientele audience clientage clientry clients constituency cortege dependents following patronage patrons public regulars management ownership club baton billy blackjack bludgeon conk buster convincer cosh cudgel hammer hickory mace mallet nightstick persuader quarterstaff rosewood sap shill shillelagh staff swatter truncheon works Business Thoughts and prayers assurance certainty courage determination morale poise spirit tenacity aplomb backbone boldness brashness cool daring dash elan fearlessness firmness fortitude grit hardihood heart impudence intrepidity mettle nerve pluck presumption reliance resoluteness resolution self-possession self-reliance spunk sureness élan faith in oneself doubt fear hesitation irresolution uncertainty weakness cowardice timidity apprehension distrust faith trust hope credence stock dependence store sure bet misgiving disbelief amour-propre confidence self-assurance self-confidence self-esteem self-regard self-respect balance coolness equanimity nonchalance surety tact assuredness certitude conclusiveness positiveness belief acceptance admission assent assumption avowal axiom conclusion conjecture conviction credit deduction divination expectation fancy feeling guess hypothesis idea impression intuition judgment knowledge mind mindset notion opinion persuasion position postulation presupposition profession supposition surmise suspicion theorem theory thesis thinking understanding view nonbelief confusion truth calculation proof fact disagreement ambiguity measurement physicality ignorance reality beliefs brass audacity cheek chutzpah effrontery gall impertinence insolence rudeness prudence caution carefulness politeness circumspection shyness modesty meekness manners humility Thoughts and prayers Confidence closed fixed halcyon hushed pacific sealed smooth stable static stock-still whist at rest buttoned up clammed up close-mouthed deathlike deathly deathly quiet deathly still hushful inert lifeless noiseless peaceful placid restful serene silent soundless stagnant stationary tranquil undisturbed unruffled unstirring untroubled broken changeable unfixed variable agitated moving stirred unquiet even nevertheless yet though notwithstanding nonetheless besides but furthermore still and all withal after all for all that howbeit quietude quietness peace soundlessness hush stillness tranquillity noiselessness silence noise disturbance commotion clamor appease subdue choke soothe gag lull allay muzzle compose fix arrest settle calm becalm quieten balm muffle stop squash pacify tranquilize slack quiet shush stall alleviate squelch shut down shut up decrease volume smooth over move disturb allow advance encourage help let go upset agitate start rouse provoke irritate aggravate unsettle anger disarrange destroy intensify excite worry distress release arouse incite also additionally again along along with and as well as well as conjointly further in conjunction with in like manner including likewise more more than that moreover on top of over and above plus still to boot together with too although admitting albeit despite despite the fact even if even supposing granting granting all this in spite of much as supposing when whereas while assuage conciliate cool ease fill lessen lighten make nice mitigate moderate mollify palliate placate pour oil on propitiate quench sate satisfy soften surfeit sweeten take the edge off take the sting out temper trouble exacerbate deplete worsen increase dissatisfy calm down relax steady breezeless motionless windless however on the other hand Thoughts and prayers Still indicator ratio basis clue evidence formula guide hand indicant indication mark model needle pointer rule sign symbol symptom token indicia significant alphabetize list record catalogue file docket tabulate disorganize disorder disarrange album anthology collection depository index memento memory book miscellany notebook portfolio register registry scrapbook order systematize mix up appendices addendum addition adjunct appendage appurtenance attachment codicil excursus notes postscript rider sample supplement table verification subtraction lessening appendix back matter afterword end matter epilogue preliminaries front matter catalog book brief flyer inventory price list prospectus roll roster schedule tally Thoughts and prayers Index indices sabines sawbones scones sageness scanners slackness subguns seabanks sickness slackens soberness slickness staginess starkness sickens signers scorners skewness skinners sub guns sac abc scab sack saber sable sabot sabre sang sank sync cbc sag sec sib sic sob sub saga sage sake sark sibs sobs spec subs account advice announcement broadcast data disclosure message report rumor statement story word bulletin cable cognizance communication copy description discovery dispatch enlightenment headlines hearsay intelligence itemization knowledge leak narration particularization recital recognition release scandal scoop specification telecast telegram telling tidings communiqué exposé eye-opener front-page news lowdown news flash the goods question silence truth concealment ignorance suppression history admonition advisement advocacy aid bum steer caution charge consultation counsel directions dissuasion encouragement exhortation forewarning guidance help information injunction input instruction judgment lesson news opinion persuasion prescription proposal proposition recommendation steer suggestion teaching telltale tip tip-off view warning word to the wise misinformation deception deceit betrayal opposition discouragement misrepresentation lie falsehood obstruction injury hindrance blockage advertisement briefing broadcasting dissemination divulgence edict exposing exposition expression intimation notice notification prediction promulgation publication publishing recitation reporting revelation secret announcements break calendar flash handout hot wire item list program skinny the dope quiet buzz comment cry grapevine rumble scuttlebutt talk whisper conversation converse declaration directive excerpt goods hot story ideas info inside story language missive note pipeline poop prophecy précis publicity speech summary translation utterance work withholding cover Thoughts and prayers NEWS News achievement actualization attainment fact materiality materialization reality substance substantiality truth brass tacks real world straight stuff what it is failure forfeit lie being actuality animation journey life living presence subsistence vitality world inanimate deadness abstract entities essence existence integral integrate quiddity quintessence sum system totality part fraction idea concept entity breath continuance continuation duration endurance hand one is dealt individuality lifing permanence perseverance rat race something survival the big game end death experience acquaintance action background caution combat contact doing empiricism evidence exposure familiarity forebearance intimacy involvement inwardness judgment know-how maturity observation participation patience perspicacity practicality practice proof savoir-faire seasoning sense skill sophistication strife struggle training trial understanding wisdom worldliness immaturity peace neglect inexperience unfamiliarity thoughtlessness heedlessness ignorance experiences Thoughts and prayers wildness worlds wordiness worldliness oldness boldness coldness wild ones weldings wooliness weirdness wardens wilderness woolens goldens wordings world wars wholeness world cold ones earth nature cosmos creation macrocosm microcosm sphere star universe heavenly body terrene everyone realm race group division humankind humanity class everybody human race province life business area system field domain atmosphere memory ambience pursuits matters Homo sapiens flesh human species man mortality people society world being actuality animation journey living presence reality subsistence vitality inanimate deadness abstract galaxy macrocosmos megacosm solar system star system living world totality death ruin destruction creations existence breath continuance continuation duration endurance entity essence hand one is dealt individuality lifing permanence perseverance rat race real world something survival the big game end Thoughts and prayers World account advice announcement broadcast data disclosure message report rumor statement story word bulletin cable cognizance communication copy description discovery dispatch enlightenment headlines hearsay intelligence itemization knowledge leak narration particularization recital recognition release scandal scoop specification telecast telegram telling tidings communiqué exposé eye-opener front-page news lowdown news flash the goods question silence truth concealment ignorance suppression history admonition advisement advocacy aid bum steer caution charge consultation counsel directions dissuasion encouragement exhortation forewarning guidance help information injunction input instruction judgment lesson news opinion persuasion prescription proposal proposition recommendation steer suggestion teaching telltale tip tip-off view warning word to the wise misinformation deception deceit betrayal opposition discouragement misrepresentation lie falsehood obstruction injury hindrance blockage advertisement briefing broadcasting dissemination divulgence edict exposing exposition expression intimation notice notification prediction promulgation publication publishing recitation reporting revelation secret announcements break calendar flash handout hot wire item list program skinny the dope quiet buzz comment cry grapevine rumble scuttlebutt talk whisper conversation converse declaration directive excerpt goods hot story ideas info inside story language missive note pipeline poop prophecy précis publicity speech summary translation utterance work withholding cover Thoughts and prayers NEWS News locales locals localizes lucarnes localize localities coolness lowliness locatings laxness load lines luckless local lock ins lock ons provincial regional district limited narrow neighborhood parish sectarian sectional territorial town vernacular bounded civic confined divisional geographical insular legendary parochial small-town broad broad-minded liberal unrestricted foreign nonnative resident inhabitant character native foreigner alien autochthonal aboriginal autochthonic autochthonous domestic endemic local branch annex arm bureau category chapter classification connection dependency derivative division extension member office outpost part portion section subdivision subsection subsidiary tributary wing company whole branches characteristic appropriate diagnostic differentiating discriminating discriminative distinctive distinguishing emblematic especial essential exclusive fixed idiosyncratic inborn inbred indicative individual individualistic ingrained inherent innate marked normal original particular peculiar personal private proper regular representative singular special specific symbolic symptomatic unique uncharacteristic public uncommon irregular general common ordinary untypical indefinite atypical unimportant eccentric unusual abnormal standard similar usual borough civil communal metropolitan municipal national urban Locals Thoughts and prayers locals Local rib rob rub assurance certainty courage determination morale poise spirit tenacity aplomb backbone boldness brashness cool daring dash elan fearlessness firmness fortitude grit hardihood heart impudence intrepidity mettle nerve pluck presumption reliance resoluteness resolution self-possession self-reliance spunk sureness élan faith in oneself doubt fear hesitation irresolution uncertainty weakness cowardice timidity apprehension distrust faith trust hope credence stock dependence store sure bet misgiving disbelief amour-propre confidence self-assurance self-confidence self-esteem self-regard self-respect balance coolness equanimity nonchalance surety tact assuredness certitude conclusiveness positiveness belief acceptance admission assent assumption avowal axiom conclusion conjecture conviction credit deduction divination expectation fancy feeling guess hypothesis idea impression intuition judgment knowledge mind mindset notion opinion persuasion position postulation presupposition profession supposition surmise suspicion theorem theory thesis thinking understanding view nonbelief confusion truth calculation proof fact disagreement ambiguity measurement physicality ignorance reality beliefs brass audacity cheek chutzpah effrontery gall impertinence insolence rudeness prudence caution carefulness politeness circumspection shyness modesty meekness manners humility Thoughts and prayers Confidence gating gang gutting catena garden gotten stung guarding carting catting gadding getting girting gitting gardens gat in gat on grunge grungy dang dung gat wrong gong gunk tang catenae cutting goading guiding jutting quoting quatting coating cutin gat near gat angry gat know cut in cut on gat going get in get on got in got on gat along gun dog