Bloomberg Economy Reporter, Ara Gumede looks at Japans Core machinery orders rise for a second consecutive month, Markets mostly in decline in China as investors focus on a govt shutdown in the U.S and Not a good day for crryptocurrencies as both Bitcoin and Ethereum drop over 25%.

Head of Financial Markets at ETM Analytics, Jana van Deventer looks at the rand continuing to draw attention in yesterday's session as the local currency briefly traded to its best levels against the USD since mid-2015. November mining production numbers were released and came in stronger than expected. How will this impact on South Africa's GDP growth in Q4 and today the focus will shift to consumption dynamics as retail sales data for November will be released.

The Assets Forfeiture Unit is expected to serve summons today on Gupta linked Trillian and consultancy firm, McKinsey - for deals they had with Eskom and Transnet. The NPA last year applied for an order at the High Court in Pretoria to have the companies asserts worth about one-point-six billion rand preserved. New ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa at the weekend promised a crackdown on state capture and on families that had benefited through corrupt dealings - at the expense of ordinary South Africans. We speak to OUTA's Chief Operating Officer, Ben Theron.

Head of Financial Markets at ETM Analytics, Jana van Deventer looks at
South Africa's financially constrained state-owned Eskom was back in the spotlight yesterday as the JSE threatened to suspend the company's debt securities. Rumours are doing the round that the Gupta family assets worth over R1.6bn have been frozen and mining production data for November will be released today. What to expect the data to show.

Head of Financial Markets at ETM Analytics, Jana van Deventer looks at the rand recovering materially through the course of December and trading in a narrow range against the USD since the start of the year, the outlook for the ZAR in the short to medium term and in international markets, we have seen a very strong rally on Brent crude and the market is flirting with the $70/bbl. mark. We find out what is driving Brent higher and how will developments in the ZAR and oil markets impact South African consumers in the near term.

-ANC January 8th Statement
-EFF sorms H&M stores
- Chicco Twala intends to stop Brenda Fassie Biopic production

The DA Federal Executive Council has resolved to charge City of Cape Town Mayor, Patricia De Lille with several counts including bringing the party into disrepute. DA leader, Mmusi Maimane addressed the media last night in Cape Town after a day of deliberations on De Lille's position in the party and the City. Maimane says De Lille has been invited to make submissions before a sub-committee which was probing division within the city, but she chose to address the matter through her lawyers.

Veteran anti-apartheid activist, recipient of the order of luthuli and late Walter Sisulu's former secretary, Rica Hodgson has dies at the age of 97. Hodgson was also a member of the South African Congress of Democrats and the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA).We speak to her son, Spencer Hodgson...

ANC president, Cyril Ramaphosa, says the ANC has no room for corrupt leaders and those who are involved in corrupt activities must be dealt with. He was speaking during the pilgrimage visit to Bumbane Great Place outside Mthatha in the Eastern Cape. He says anyone who stands against the implementation of ANC policies will be removed. Nkululeko Nyembezi was there and filed this report…..

Foreign nationals at the embattled Rustenburg town in the North West, are pilling up at the local police stations to look for refuge. The men and women were attacked on Wednesday night, and their shops were set-alight. This as violence in the city heightened with at least six buildings suspected to be brothels and drug havens set alight. From Rustenburg here's a report by Lucas Mothibedi...