By Craig Pheiffer: Chief Investment Strategist, Absa Stockbrokers and Portfolio Management. Legendary escapologist Harry Houdini began his career escaping from handcuffs but later went on to dazzle audiences with escapes from large milk cans, his specially designed Chinese water torture cell and buried caskets. The difficulty of the escapes was often ratcheted up by binding […]
Global equity markets: What’s in store for 2019
2018 was the S&P 500’s worst year (-6.2% YoY) since 2008, while the MSCI World Equity Index dropped 10.4% YoY. For the first time in years, all major global asset classes produced negative real returns. Emerging markets (EMs) bore the brunt of the risk-off environment, with the JSE All Share Index closing 2018 with a […]
Asset allocation: equities still likely to reward
By Alwyn van der Merwe, Director of Investments, Sanlam Private Wealth. After a particularly tumultuous 2018, investors could be forgiven for feeling they were waking up to 2019 nursing a massive hangover. Both global and local financial markets took a severe beating over the year, and investors in higher risk asset classes such as equities […]
Comparing tax-free savings accounts with unit trusts
By Jaco Prinsloo, Financial Planner at Alexander Forbes Financial Planning Consultants. The close of the tax year is drawing near, meaning those wanting to make use of the tax-free savings account allowance have their last opportunity on February 28 to put money away in the current tax year. (more…)
2019 National Budget predictions: An increase in the budget deficit?
By the tax team at Norton Rose Fulbright. In the last three annual budget speeches delivered by the Minister of Finance, we have seen increases in the following taxes: an increase in the VAT rate from 14% to 15%; an increased rate of personal income tax, referred to as the new super tax bracket of 45% […]
Opportunistic crime could climb amid load shedding
Amidst the recent countrywide implementation of stage 3 load shedding by soon to be unbundled state power utility, Eskom, South Africans are cautioned to protect themselves, their property and their valued belongings. There are grave potential financial repercussions of not only the load shedding process, but also the dangerous power surges that can ensue as […]
Local CIS industry shoulders tough markets, attracts net inflows of R93.5 bn
The local Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) industry attracted net inflows of R93.5 billion in 2018, ending the year with assets under management of R2.24 trillion. (more…)
Is oil as valuable as SA believes?
The recent gas discovery of approximately one billion barrels of oil equivalent in South African seas by French energy group, Total, has triggered widespread hope of a significant economic boost for the local economy. (more…)
Budget preview: three issues that need to be addressed
By Nazmeera Moola, Deputy MD, Investec Asset Management The Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) last year, much like the MTBPS in 2017, reflected the government’s inability to make difficult decisions in the wake of deteriorating economic conditions. The expectation thereafter was that with a new Minister of Finance in Tito Mboweni we would finally see […]
Dear Mister Minister, our top budgeting tips for keeping cash flowing in our economy
By Andrew Duvenage, Managing Director, NFB Private Wealth Management, Johannesburg. Over the years your predecessors have consistently increased the pressure on high net worth individuals in their annual budgets. Currently the top 2% of earners account for between 25% and 35% of South Africa’s total revenue. We understand government’s objectives to address the substantial disparities […]
And the best gifts come in life-size boxes
The month of romance is here, and the hopeless romantics are in full swing. For all the cynical jibes and cheesy grins, Valentine’s Day is a great reminder to celebrate the people we love and who make our lives that much better. It’s an opportunity to express that admiration and care in a way that […]
