Interim losses for Orion Minerals...

The group's loss increased by $0.87 million for the half-year ended 31 December 2024 mainly due to contractor and advisor costs of $1.18 million and exploration costs of $2.44 million that were incurred, and a finance income of $2.74 million that was received. The large exploration costs are actually expensed due to them not qualifying to be capitalised and the finance income comes from a preference share investment that the group made through its subsidiary, Agama in Prieska Resources. The group's cash from operating activities increased by $4.15 million for the half-year ended 31 December 2024, driven by the cash payment increase in exploration and evaluation activities which also increased increased by $3.6 million for the half-year ended 31 December 2024. The net cash from investing activities, which included $11.32 million worth of proceeds from issued shares, totalled $13.85 million. Consequently the cash on hand for the half-year ended 31 December 2024 decreased by $1.92 million. Regardless of all of this, the group still prepared the financial statements as a going concern, which contemplates continuity of normal business activities and the realisation of assets and discharge of liabilities in the normal course of business. International Business News

Tesla lost $127 billion in one day as a Chinese car group questioned Musk's pursuit of personal glory

Tesla has been having a rough 2025 and on Monday alone, the company lost 15% in market value ($127 billion), bringing the total loss for 2025 to 40%. Tesla has now lost all of the gains it made since November 2024. Tesla faces strong competition in China and it reported a 49% decline in year-on-year sales in China in February. However, Trump made efforts to revive Tesla's stock performance as he announced that he'll be buying a tesla in efforts of supporting the brand and Musk. As he did this, Tesla stock started to recover on Tuesday, closing up 3.8%, proving the impact that the US president has on the EV maker. On Wednesday, the company's stocks were up 7.59%, showing signs of a strong bullish momentum since Trump's endorsement and the better-than-expected CPI news. Budget Speech

Here's everything that you need to know: 1. VAT has been increased to 16%, with the 1% increase being stretched over the next two years, i.e, 0.5% in the 2025/26 year and another 0.5% in the 2026/27 year. 2. Following the 0.6% fourth quarter economic growth, South Africa is projected to have a 1.8% economic growth by 2027. 3. The consolidated budget deficit is expected to reduce by 1.5% of the GDP by the 2027/28 year, from the current % of the GDP. 4. Debt service costs, which cost 22% of our revenue, will stabilise in the current 2025/26 year. 5. Consolidated government spending increases at an average of 5.6%, from R2.4 trillion in the 2024/25 year to R2.83 trillion in the 2027/28 year. 6. R46.7 billion is planned to be spent on infrastructure investments and R23.4 billion is made available for the 2025 public-service wage agreement. 7. Personal tax and rebates remain unchanged. 8. Government plans to make more essential goods zero-rated supplies and have no additional duel levy. 9. Social grants have also been increased. The SRD grant has now been extended to the end of the 2025/26 fiscal year. This SRD fund supports approximately 10 million South Africans. Initially introduced in 2020 at R350 is now R370. Old age grant has been increased by R130, war veterans grant has been increased by R130, disabilities grant has been increased by R130, foster care grant has been increased by R70, care dependency grant has been increased by R130, child support grant has increased by R30 and grant-in-aid has been increased by R30. 10. Sin tax for alcohol beverages, pipe tobacco and cigars has been increased by 6.8% and on vaping products it has been increased by 4.8%. Thank you for reading, that is all from me this week! Please like, comment and share with every single person you know and who they also know!