Tag: Nedbank Group Ltd

The 2024 operating environment remained challenging, with weak economic activity. SA’s GDP growth expectations dropped to 0.5%, down from 0.7% in 2023. The first six months proved especially difficult due to geopolitical uncertainty and high interest rates. Moreover, general uncertainty ahead of SA’s national election added further pressure. These factors are reflected in the Nedbank Group Annual Results, highlighting the impact on financial performance and market conditions.

In 2023 the operating environment for South African banks was more challenging than initially forecast. In addition to a weaker global economy, domestic economic activity was impacted by record levels of load-shedding (electricity shortages), logistical constraints, higher-than-expected levels of inflation and, as a result, higher-than-expected increases in interest rates. Collectively, these conditions have put increasing pressure on consumers’ finances and led to reductions in business confidence and investment in most sectors other than energy.

Headline earnings increase of 10% driven by strong revenue growth partially offset by increases in retail impairments

Operating conditions in the first half of 2021 were better than we expected at the start of the year. This was evident in upward revisions to GDP growth, vaccine rollouts gathering pace and positive developments on key reforms in SA.

Having a good business idea, nurturing it, and putting it into practice is one of the critical steps on the journey to entrepreneurship. Running a successful business, even during a pandemic, is the ultimate goal for all entrepreneurs.

The global economic landscape has undergone a seismic shift since the arrival of COVID-19 over a year ago. However, while the pandemic caused significant business challenges, it also triggered and accelerated many innovations as organisations adapted to change, often simply to survive.

Over the past decade, South Africa has seen a sharp increase in the number of people earning an income outside of formal employment. For some, the need for a self-generated income arose from falling victim to the country’s steadily rising unemployment figures.

The bank is taking a cautious approach due to pandemic uncertainty but says payouts may resume as early as June. Nedbank won't be paying a final dividend for 2020 after rising credit impairments, fewer transactions and falling interest rates resulted in a big decline in full-year earnings. But it is confident that payouts will resume this year.

Most small and medium businesses in South Africa had a very difficult 2020 financial year, with many, particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors, having to close their doors. Those that survived the pandemic now find themselves having to rebuild – a task made more difficult by a stunted economic environment, with low levels of consumer discretionary income.

The banking group is hopeful that impairments will decline, and client activity will continue to improve as the year progresses. Nedbank believes the worst may be behind it after suffering a large decline in first-half earnings due to what is has billed as the Great Lockdown Crisis (GLC).