An alternative exchange that could be a fore racer to easier and cheaper permanent fund raising in capital markets from beginning to end Africa starts operations at the Johannesburg Security Exchange (JSE) this month (August).

An alternative exchange that could be a fore racer to easier and cheaper permanent fund raising in capital markets from beginning to end Africa starts operations at the Johannesburg Security Exchange (JSE) this month (August). It will be officially launched in October.

Known as the JSE Alternative Exchange ([Alt.sup.x]), it is aimed specifically at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and is intended as a 'nursery school' to support and prepare small businesses for eventual listing upon stock exchanges' main boards.

Although the initiative is southward African at this time, "we have a responsibility to our neighbours, and also countries further afield