Tag: diversification

Africa sits at a crossroads. The continent is rich in natural resources, faces growing energy demand and urgently needs modern infrastructure. Yet translating this potential into sustainable, long-term development is rarely straightforward. For developers, oil and gas operators, governments and financiers, success depends on more than mere resource availability.

Investment management is fundamentally about improving the odds of success in an environment defined by uncertainty. Market commentary often centres on returns. However, what truly matters to clients is whether their portfolios deliver the outcomes they need, when they need them and within tolerable levels of risk.

Many traders fall into the trap of overtrading, chasing short-term gains without a structured strategy. Others overdiversify by spreading capital too thinly across multiple assets without a clear risk management plan. Striking the right balance is key to long-term success.

Many people dream of financial freedom, but the path to achieving it is often misunderstood. It’s not a destination you can reach overnight but rather a carefully navigated journey. To succeed, you must focus on the long term, make smart adjustments and understand the importance of managing risks and diversification.

Retail discounters show double-digit growth while e-commerce continues its surge. Our new grocery retail data reveals key shifts in South Africa’s FMCG retail landscape, with discounter and e-commerce formats outperforming other channels in 2024. Despite easing inflation, South African shoppers remain under economic pressure, leading to changing missions, increased cross-channel behaviour and format diversification among major retailers.

President Donald Trump’s so-called Liberation Day tariffs, announced in early April, have once again reminded investors of the fragility of market confidence. This is especially true in the face of policy missteps. The scale and pace of these measures have sparked sharp reactions. They have wiped out trillions in equity value within days and created confusion across global supply chains.

Capitec, South Africa’s leading digital bank, has achieved a remarkable milestone, now serving more than half of the country’s adult population. Over the past five years, the bank's journey has included the introduction of business banking, value-added services (VAS), Capitec Connect and insurance under its own insurance licence.

Forecasting economic and market variables is inherently difficult. Forecasting is tough. Research suggests that only 23% of professional forecasts prove accurate. Add in US policy uncertainty - President Trump signed a flurry of executive orders on his first day in office. As a result, predicting the outlook for the global economy becomes even more challenging than usual.

As economic and political dynamics shift in 2025, the South African (SA) Rand risks signal that we could be in for a bumpy ride. However, it might not be all downhill. Looking at the major market forces at play, there are top pressures on the Rand in 2025 that will be decisive for the Rand’s performance in the coming year.

2024 marked the biggest election year in human history. Over 70 countries held elections, representing more than half the global population. Estimates show that over 80% of incumbent parties lost voter support in 2024 compared to the previous election. This shift made 2024 a significant year for global democracy.