Contrary to what many pundits had anticipated, most equity markets ended 2023 in strong positive territory. Investor confidence and sentiment were lifted by the increasing belief that interest rates had reached their peak and a US recession seemingly averted, with...
In European mythology, dragons breathe fire and terror; in Chinese mythology, water and prosperity. As China celebrates its year of the dragon, that difference in perception sums up the debate about China’s long term structural challenges. We tend to side with those...
Just over a year ago we were all enthralled by the emergence of a technology that promised to disrupt all facets of our lives. What started as a live social experiment of opening large Natural Language Processing (NLP) algorithms, in the form of ChatGPT, to answer the...
Africa takes the lead in global female entrepreneurship, with women constituting 58% of self-employment across the continent, as reported by the OECD and World Economic Forum. Ironically, this ranking coexists with significant gender based funding disparities....
Imagine a South Africa where income inequality has diminished, unemployment rates have dropped and poverty levels have decreased considerably. More South African businesses have allocated capital strategically and the ripple effect has extended to job seekers,...
In July 2022, the National Treasury unveiled pivotal amendments to Regulation 28, revolutionising the investment framework for South African retirement funds. Despite the regulatory endorsement for funds to invest in private markets and other asset classes, investors...
South Africa (SA)’s private education industry (schooling and tertiary) is an attractive space with good fundamentals and above average growth prospects. Its listed education groups (ADvTECH, Curro, STADIO) deliver quality education and are defensive businesses with...
Q & A with Marius du Toit, Managing Director, Efficient Benefit Consulting and Johan van Vuuren, estate planning expert, Efficient Board of Executors Many people and families find it difficult to navigate the complex obligations that arise under the legislation...
Our relationship with money is shaped from a very early age. Growing up in a home with all the material comforts may lead to us take money for granted. Conversely, growing up where there is a lack can be the basis for a negative relationship with money. Whatever our...
FSCA update on roll-out and implementation of cross-sectoral conduct of business return for financial institutions The FSCA has published its 'Update on roll-out and implementation of cross-sectoral Conduct of Business Return for financial institutions'. The...