S.Africa's Dec business confidence index up at 99.1

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's business confidence index increased to 99.1 in December from 97.4 in November, the first rise since April last year, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) said on Tuesday. The BCI averaged 100.4 in 2011, well below the peak of 119 seen in 2006 since its commencement in 1985. "The state of the global economy will on balance continue to have negative effects on business confidence in 2012," SACCI said in a statement adding that businesses faced a difficult and uncertain period over the next twelve months.