Tag: global inflation
Major banks analysis – resilient performance amid challenges
South Africa’s major banks maintained steady growth in 2024 despite a challenging operating climate and macroeconomic uncertainties. Combined headline earnings grew by 5.9%, reaching R119 billion. This surpassed FY23 results. The combined ROE stood at 17.5% (FY23: 17.6%). The net interest margin was 451 bps (FY23: 459 bps). The credit loss ratio improved to 89 bps (FY23: 102 bps).
Why a new mindset is a non-negotiable in 2023
As we wind up 2022, it is natural to reflect on yet another tough year in the markets and to start planning for the one that lies ahead. We believe there is one crucial ingredient investors will need to ensure investment success in the new year: a fresh mindset.
The power of advice in interesting times
Looking at global news headlines, we are inundated with negative news – from concerns about the war in Ukraine, the possibility of a global recession and uncertainty about the future of global inflation and interest rates. Locally, things appear equally uncertain and gloomy.
Best opportunity to buy a life annuity this decade
Current market conditions allow pensioners to secure 30% higher income that is guaranteed for life, than they could at the start of this decade. This is a window of opportunity for pensioners to lock in certainty of income for life, against an increasingly uncertain and volatile future.
Post-pandemic investment opportunities are everywhere, but so is the risk
‘When one door closes, another one opens,’ as the saying goes, and this is particularly true when it comes to investments. Economic recovery is on the horizon, and while it is expected and somewhat priced in by present market activity, investors are more interested in looking at what lies ahead. And here there may be some opportunities.
Global markets – going from orange to green?
2020 will be remembered as the year where the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world taking the lives of many. This human tragedy was accompanied by an economic crisis as global economies shut down in an attempt to slow down the spread of the disease.
Revisiting the great inflation debate
It’s a new year but the global inflation debate continues to rage. Few things are as important for longer-term market behaviour as inflation; so this is important stuff, but also difficult since the big inflation shifts of the past 60 years (first up, then down, then way down) were largely unexpected.
SARB expected to hold interest rates steady
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is meeting again - 21 July 2020 to 23 July 2020 - to discuss policy matters. The central bank lowered interest rates by a cumulative 275 basis points in the year so far, most recently making a 0.5 percentage point cut in lending rates on May 21.
