Sasol has set the agenda for next month's general meeting when it will ask shareholders to approve the sale of a 50% stake in the base chemicals business at its Lake Charles complex in Louisiana. The energy and chemicals group posted the circular for the meeting yesterday as it updated investors on developments at Lake Charles, which was battered by a hurricane at the end of August. However, it says a second hurricane this month caused no apparent damage.

While Sasol's shares remain under pressure, down 68% this year, Altron's stock took off yesterday, jumping 20% after it said it was targeting a listing price for its Bytes UK that would value the UK business at least at the same level as its own current market capitalisation. The announcement came with the release of its interim results, which showed a strong contribution from Bytes.

More on those to follow, along with annual results from Clicks, interims from Datatec and production updates from the Anglo American stable of companies.

It's Friday, so look out for all the latest mergers and acquisitions news from DealMakers too.

Have a great weekend.

Stephen Gunnion

Managing Editor, InceConnect

The latest from Ingham Analytics

Ingham Analytics have introduced a Banks Monitor to add to the Energy Monitor and Mining Monitor. In "Irish eyes aren't smiling" they say there are signals globally, including Ireland, that loan default risk is now greater than corporate bond default risk. They also say that huge increases in impairments whilst seemingly conservative may not be conservative enough. Bank share prices look cheap, are they cheap enough?

Other recent notes of topical interest include "Road to nowhere?" and "Nickel for Elon?" which given that Tesla has just reported Q3 results will be of complementary interest.