BCI plunges

SOUTH Africa’s business confidence index (BCI) fell to a nine-year low in the second quarter, driven down by persistent weak business activity. Data released by the Rand Merchant Bank and the Bureau for Economic Research on Wednesday showed the BCI dropped to levels last seen in 2009, plunging 11 points to 29 points during the period, with nine out of 10 respondents saying they viewed the prevailing business conditions as unsatisfactory.