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Gains in industrials lead JSE higherNatalie MayerMay 2013| Gains in industrials and other sectors helped to offset losses in gold mining and resource shares, leaving the JSE All Share up 0.49% by midday on Thursday. |
Striking mine workers continue to weaken RandNatalie MayerMay 2013| Though gold mining shares had tumbled 3.54% on Wednesday, gains in other sectors helped the JSE All Share to climb 0.29% by midday. |
JSE slides on losses in resource and gold mining sharesNatalie MayerMay 2013| The JSE All Share had edged down 0.14% by noon on Tuesday, after losses led by resource and gold mining shares. |
Rising gold mining shares lead JSE upwardsNatalie MayerMay 2013| At noon on Monday, the JSE All Share had risen 0.15% led by rising gold mining shares. |
Positive global sentiment sees JSE edge upNatalie MayerMay 2013| The JSE All Share had edged up 0.12% by midday on Friday, with small gains almost across the board offsetting losses in gold mining shares. |
Gold miners, resources continue to climbNatalie MayerMay 2013| The JSE All Share had gained 0.40% by midday on Thursday, led by rising gold mining and resource shares. |
Rising industrial and resource shares lift JSENatalie MayerMay 2013| Gains in industrial and resource shares helped to boost the JSE All Share higher by 1.26% at noon on Wednesday. |
Gains in resources offset losses in gold miners, industrialsNatalie MayerMay 2013| The JSE All Share was flat around noon on Tuesday, edging up 0.12% as gains in resources just managed to offset losses in gold and industrial shares. |
Stronger resource shares lead gains on JSENatalie MayerMay 2013| At midday on Monday the JSE All Share had risen 0.59%, with gains across the board led by resource shares. |
JSE offsets losses in gold miners and financialsNatalie MayerMay 2013| On Friday at 12.30, the JSE All Share had edged up 0.06% with gains in resource shares helping to overcome losses in gold miners and financials. |
Rising gold shares boost JSE All ShareNatalie MayerMay 2013| Rising gold shares boosted the JSE All Share on Thursday, sending the local bourse 0.72% higher by noon. |
JSE lower, resource shares fallNatalie MayerApril 2013| Losses in resource shares were leading the slide on the JSE on Tuesday, with the local bourse falling 0.77% by noon. |
Losses in gold miners weigh on JSENatalie MayerApril 2013| At midday on Monday the JSE All Share had fallen 0.25%, as tumbling gold mining shares weighed on the local bourse. |
Gains in financial and industrial shares lift JSENatalie MayerApril 2013| At Friday midday the JSE All Share was up 0.35%, led by financial and industrial shares which offset losses in gold miners and resources. |
Stronger gold miners boost JSENatalie MayerApril 2013| At noon on Thursday, the JSE All Share had risen 0.79% due to strong gains in gold mining shares. |
Weaker industrial shares weigh on JSENatalie MayerApril 2013| Losses in industrial shares weighed on the JSE All Share at midday on Wednesday, seeing the local bourse slide 0.11%. |
Industrial shares lead JSE upwardsNatalie MayerApril 2013| Just after 12:30 the JSE All Share had gained 0.83%, with stronger industrial shares lifting the local bourse. |
JSE continues to gain as gold miners strengthenNatalie MayerApril 2013| By 1pm on Monday, the JSE All Share had gained 0.45% led by climbing gold mining shares. |
Strong recovery in gold, resources boosts JSENatalie MayerApril 2013| The JSE All Share had gained 1.30% by midday on Friday, with gold and resources shares showing a strong recovery. |
JSE edges up despite losses in gold minersNatalie MayerApril 2013| The JSE All Share managed to edge up 0.17% at midday on Thursday, offsetting losses in gold mining shares. |
Gold, resource shares weigh on JSENatalie MayerApril 2013| Losses in gold and resource shares returned, leading the JSE All Share down 0.60% at midday on Wednesday. |
JSE All Share recovers slightly after yesterday’s commodity sell-offNatalie MayerApril 2013| The JSE All Share was up 0.88% by midday on Tuesday, recovering somewhat after yesterday’s sell off of commodity shares. |
Gold miners plunge 9.76% by noonNatalie MayerApril 2013| Plunging gold mining shares weighed this morning after a sell-off in commodities, helping to send the JSE All Share down 2.16% at midday on Monday. |
Resource shares lead losses on the JSENatalie MayerApril 2013| There were losses across the board at midday on Friday, with resource shares leading the slide and the JSE All Share down 0.73%. |
Gold miners and resources slideNatalie MayerApril 2013| Losses in gold mining and resource shares weighed on the JSE All Share, leading a slide of 0.11% for the local bourse. |
Gold miners and resources slideNatalie MayerApril 2013| Losses in gold mining and resource shares weighed on the JSE All Share, leading a slide of 0.11% for the local bourse. |
Gold miners and resources slideNatalie MayerApril 2013| Losses in gold mining and resource shares weighed on the JSE All Share, leading a slide of 0.11% for the local bourse. |
Gold miners and resources slideNatalie MayerApril 2013| Losses in gold mining and resource shares weighed on the JSE All Share, leading a slide of 0.11% for the local bourse. |
Rising resource shares boost JSENatalie MayerApril 2013| At noon on Wednesday the JSE All Share had climbed 1.14%, with gains across the board led by rising resource shares. |
Gains in resource and gold shares boost the JSENatalie MayerApril 2013| Gains in resource and gold shares boosted the JSE All Share 0.15% by midday on Tuesday. |
Gains in industrials lift JSENatalie MayerApril 2013| The JSE All Share was up 0.49% by noon on Monday, as gains in industrial shares boosted the local bourse upwards. |
Falling industrial shares lead JSE downNatalie MayerApril 2013| On Friday at noon the JSE All Share had fallen 0.88%, with losses in industrial shares leading the slide downwards. |
JSE flat, global markets await central bank newsNatalie MayerApril 2013| The JSE All Share had managed to edge up 0.01% by midday on Thursday, though losses in gold mining shares continued to limit further gains. |
Plunging gold mining shares weigh on JSENatalie MayerApril 2013| Gold shares had plunged 3.09% by noon on Wednesday, leading the JSE All Share down by 0.67%. |
Are You Investing With Your Chimp Mind? AJ CilliersApril 2013 | | Find out why dysfunctional investment behaviour can occur, and learn what you can do to avoid it. |
Editor’s NoteNatalie MayerApril 2013 | | Welcome to the April issue of MarketViews.
It’s an unfortunate perception that trading and investing is easy, that somehow you can just "play the game" and win without any knowledge or experience. If it really were that easy...[click the title to read more] |
Fragile Global Bottoming Or Double-Dip In Progress?Dwaine van VuurenApril 2013 | | It is easy to view the data and come to the alarming conclusion the world is accelerating into an ever-deepening recession and the U.S is bound to follow soon. However, there are two sides to this coin. |
JSE up after Easter weekendNatalie MayerApril 2013| The JSE All Share was up 0.50% by midday on Tuesday after the Easter weekend, with industrial and financial shares leading gains. |
Top 5 Mistakes Traders Make - And How To Avoid ThemNatalie MayerApril 2013 | | A surprising number of investors and traders lose money on the markets, especially during their first few years. Here are their top five mistakes and how to avoid them. |
JSE flat before the Easter weekendNatalie MayerMarch 2013| The JSE All Share was flat at midday on Thursday in relatively quiet trade ahead of the Easter weekend. |
Losses in financial and industrial shares weigh on JSENatalie MayerMarch 2013| The JSE All Share had fallen 0.20% by noon on Wednesday, with losses in financial and industrials weighing on the local bourse. |
Rising financial shares lead gains across the JSENatalie MayerMarch 2013| Rising financial shares led gains across the board, boosting the JSE All Share 0.66% by noon on Tuesday. |
JSE follows gains on global marketsNatalie MayerMarch 2013| The JSE All Share had gained 0.15% by midday on Monday, as investors considered news that Cyprus secured a bailout from its international creditors.
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Global markets lose ground on Cyprus worriesNatalie MayerMarch 2013| Losses in industrial shares led the JSE All Share down 0.68% at midday on Friday. |
JSE rises ahead of interest rate announcementNatalie MayerMarch 2013| The JSE All Share had risen 0.24% by midday on Wednesday ahead of the Reserve Bank’s interest rate announcement. |
Gold miners and resources weigh on JSENatalie MayerMarch 2013| The JSE All Share had fallen 0.43% by midday on Tuesday, with losses in gold mining and resource shares weighing on the index. |
Global markets down on Cyprus worriesNatalie MayerMarch 2013| Sliding resource shares led losses on the stock market this morning, with the JSE All Share down 0.57% by midday. |
Gains in resource shares lead JSE upwardsNatalie MayerMarch 2013| The JSE All Share was up 0.15% at noon on Friday, led by gains in resource shares. |
JSE edges up, buoyed by gains in financial sharesNatalie MayerMarch 2013| At noon on Thursday the JSE All Share had risen 0.08%, with gains in financial shares offsetting losses in resource and gold mining shares. |
Concern over deficits sees rand weakenNatalie MayerMarch 2013| The JSE All Share was flat at midday on Wednesday, edging up 0.03% as gains in gold mining shares propped up the index. |
SA current account deficit largest since 2008, JSE slidesNatalie MayerMarch 2013| At midday on Tuesday, the JSE All Share had slipped 0.34% with losses almost across the board led by falling financial shares. |
JSE rises 0.53% with gains in most sectorsNatalie MayerMarch 2013| At midday on Monday, the JSE All Share had risen 0.53% in line with gains in most sectors, following stronger US markets. |
JSE continues to gain, following global markets higherNatalie MayerMarch 2013| At midday on Friday, gold mining and resource shares declined but the JSE All Share still managed to gain 0.17%. |
Soaring gold shares boost JSENatalie MayerMarch 2013| The JSE All Share had gained 0.55% by noon on Thursday, after gold shares soared upwards by 6.80%. |
JSE follows global markets higherNatalie MayerMarch 2013| By midday on Wednesday, the JSE All Share had risen 0.14% in line with gains on international markets. |
Editor’s NoteNatalie MayerMarch 2013 | | Researching shares to invest in is a vital aspect of successful investing, but it can be a time-consuming process. This edition of MarketViews offers you a selection of share shortlists... |
Gains almost across the board for the JSENatalie MayerMarch 2013| The JSE All Share had risen 1.14% by noon on Tuesday, with gains almost across the board, with the exception of falling gold mining shares. |
Investing in Winning Companies AJ CilliersMarch 2013 | | Is there an investment strategy which allows investors to maximise the benefits of investing in a portfolio of winning companies? |
Sustainable Investing: Worth Your Effort?Natalie MayerMarch 2013 | | Sustainable investment should not be seen as donating to charity - profits are made and there are good returns to be enjoyed. |
Top Performing Sectors of the JSENatalie MayerMarch 2013 | | In practice, we tend to apply diversification to investing in different shares. But also diversifying by sector can help make your investments more resilient to shock, and improve portfolio performance. |
Sliding resource shares weigh on JSENatalie MayerMarch 2013| Losses in resource shares weighed on the JSE All Share this morning, sending the index sliding 0.61% by midday on Monday. |
JSE offsets losses in gold and resources, rises 0.52% by noonNatalie MayerMarch 2013| The JSE All Share had risen 0.52% by midday on Friday, led by gains in financial and industrial shares which offset losses in gold mining and resource shares. |
Gains in financials boost JSENatalie MayerFebruary 2013| The JSE All Share had risen 0.50% by noon on Thursday, with gains in financial shares boosting the index. |
JSE slides before Budget SpeechNatalie MayerFebruary 2013| By noon on Wednesday the JSE All Share had slipped 1.17%, with losses in resources, financial and industrial shares weighing on the local bourse. |
Losses in resource shares weigh on JSENatalie MayerFebruary 2013| Declining resource shares weighed on the JSE All Share, contributing to a 0.87% slide in the index by midday Tuesday. |
JSE higher ahead of Wednesday’s budget announcementNatalie MayerFebruary 2013| The JSE All Share had risen 0.72% by noon on Monday, with gains across the board as investors traded optimistically before the budget announcement on Wednesday. |
Recovery in gold miners and resource shares lifts JSENatalie MayerFebruary 2013| At midday on Friday, the JSE All Share had recovered by 0.26% after yesterday’s losses following a turnaround in falling gold mining and resources shares. |
JSE continues to fall on losses in gold and resource sharesNatalie MayerFebruary 2013| On Thursday at noon, the JSE All Share had fallen 1.32%, as gold miners and resource shares continued to plunge after poor earnings results from major sector players. |
Gold miners, resources weigh on JSENatalie MayerFebruary 2013| Tumbling gold mining and resource shares weighed on the JSE All Share on Wednesday, sending the index down 0.68% by noon. |
JSE All Share up 0.48% after recovery in miners and resourcesNatalie MayerFebruary 2013| The JSE All Share had gained 0.48% by midday on Tuesday after some recovery in gold mining and resource shares. |
Losses almost across the board for JSENatalie MayerFebruary 2013| Losses in gold mining shares once again weighed on the JSE All Share, which had fallen 0.68% by midday on Monday. |
Losses for the JSE before the weekend, gold miners weighNatalie MayerFebruary 2013| At noon on Friday, the JSE All Share was down 0.13%, with losses almost across the board led by falling gold mining shares. |
Losses in gold miners weigh on JSENatalie MayerFebruary 2013| The JSE All Share had fallen 0.23% by midday on Thursday, led down by losses in gold mining shares. |
JSE gains in line with US marketsNatalie MayerFebruary 2013| The JSE All Share had gained 0.10% by midday on Wednesday in line with US markets, offsetting losses in industrial shares. |
Global markets flat, JSE down 0.4%Natalie MayerFebruary 2013| At midday on Tuesday, the JSE All Share had fallen 0.40% with almost across-the-board losses, except for gold mining shares. |
Slow start to week for JSENatalie MayerFebruary 2013| The JSE All Share was flat at noon on Monday, up 0.12% with small gains across the board mostly offset by losses in gold mining and resource shares. |
Gains across the board for the JSE on FridayNatalie MayerFebruary 2013| The JSE All Share was up 0.56% just past midday on Friday, with gains across the board led by gold miners and resource shares. |
JSE climbs 0.46% by middayNatalie MayerFebruary 2013| The JSE All Share was up 0.46% at midday on Thursday, with gains almost across the board with the exception of gold mining shares, which had lost 0.30% by noon. |
Global markets up after positive earnings resultsNatalie MayerFebruary 2013| At noon on Wednesday, the JSE All Share had risen 0.23% with gains in resources and financial shares helping to boost the local bourse. |
JSE flat as losses in gold miners and resources weighNatalie MayerFebruary 2013| The JSE All Share was clinging to a 0.01% gain at midday on Tuesday, despite losses in gold miners and resource shares which threatened to drag down the local bourse. |
Editor’s NoteNatalie MayerFebruary 2013 | | Dear Readers
Welcome to our first issue of MarketViews for 2013.
We hope you’ve had a great rest and are getting back into the swing of things with a sense of optimism for the year ahead... |
Election-Predicting Instruments: Viable in South Africa?Zivanemoyo ChinzaraFebruary 2013 | | While newspapers and other polls predicted a close race between President Barack Obama and his challenger Mitt Romney, the markets correctly predicted a landslide win for Obama. Could we use election-predicting instruments in SA? |
Gold miners boost JSENatalie MayerFebruary 2013| Gold mining shares powered higher by 2.44%, boosting the JSE All Share by 0.33% at midday on Monday. |
Is Your Personality Costing You Money? AJ CilliersFebruary 2013 | | Whether you are introverted or extroverted has important implications for the way you invest. |
The World in 2013 - Prospects and Pitfalls AJ CilliersFebruary 2013 | | Scan the forecasts of the world’s mainstream economists and you can’t help but feel guardedly optimistic about 2013. Are these signs, almost six years later, that the "Great Recession" is finally behind us? |
Gains in resources, industrials lift JSE before the weekendNatalie MayerFebruary 2013| Gains in resources and industrial shares led the JSE All Share up 0.61% by noon on Friday. |
Losses in gold miners weigh on JSENatalie MayerJanuary 2013| The JSE SA Top 40 was down 0.52% by noon on Thursday, led down by losses in gold mining shares. |
JSE edges down after earlier gainsNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| The JSE All Share had edged down 0.05% by midday on Wednesday after losses in gold miners, industrial and financial shares. Resources had climbed 0.43% by noon. |
JSE rises 0.13%, resources and financials gainNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| At midday on Tuesday the JSE All Share had risen 0.13% with gains in resources and financial shares, but gold miners continued to lose ground. |
JSE slips after reaching new record highNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| At noon on Monday, the JSE All Share had slipped 0.44% after reaching a new record high, led down by losses in gold mining shares. |
Consolidation sees JSE retreat on FridayNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| Gold mining shares tumbled 2.98% on Friday morning, dragging the JSE All Share down 0.41% by midday as investors consolidated their positions before the weekend. |
JSE reaches all time highsNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| Gains in resource shares once again led the JSE All Share higher, helping the local bourse rise 0.73% by noon on Thursday and reach all time highs. |
Gold miners lead JSE upwardsNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| Midday Wednesday saw the JSE All Share up 0.37% with gains almost across the board led by stronger gold mining shares. |
Resource shares drag down JSENatalie MayerJanuary 2013| The JSE All Share had fallen 0.77% by noon on Tuesday as losses in resource shares dragged down the local bourse. |
Losses in industrial shares weigh on JSENatalie MayerJanuary 2013| The JSE All Share had given up 0.75% by midday on Monday, weighed on by losses in industrial shares. |
Gains across the board for JSENatalie MayerJanuary 2013| At noon on Friday the JSE All Share was up 0.39%, led by gains in resource and gold shares. |
Rising financial shares lift JSENatalie MayerJanuary 2013| The JSE All Share was up 0.16% by noon on Thursday, as gains in financial shares lifted the local bourse and offset losses in gold and resource shares. |
Weaker resource shares weigh, JSE edges downNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| At midday on Wednesday, falling resource shares just managed to outweigh gains in gold and industrial shares, pushing the JSE All Share down 0.03%. |
JSE edges up, led by climbing resource sharesNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| The JSE All Share was up 0.04% by noon on Tuesday, led by gains in resource shares while financial and industrial shares lost ground. |
JSE flat as gains in gold offset by industrial lossesNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| Gold shares had gained 1.34% by midday on Monday, but the JSE All Share had still edged down 0.01% led by losses in industrials. |
Credit rating cut for SA dampens JSE, weakens randNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| At noon on Friday the JSE All Share had slipped 0.21% in mixed trade. Gold shares were leading the upward movers, gaining 1.50% by midday, while resource shares had lost 1.27%. |
JSE retreats after reaching record highsNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| The JSE All Share had fallen 0.24% by 12:18 after reaching record highs earlier in the day, led by losses in gold shares. |
JSE up, rand stable but labour strike worries remainNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| Wednesday midday saw the JSE All Share up 0.14%, with gains across the board making up for yesterday’s losses on uncertainty in the mining sector. |
JSE flat, global markets mixed ahead of US earnings seasonNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| The JSE All Share was flat at noon on Tuesday, with losses in gold mining shares weighing on the local bourse as investors worried about the state of the mining sector in SA. |
JSE slips but analysts optimistic for recoveryNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| At midday on Monday, the JSE All Share had fallen 0.09% with losses almost across the board, with the exception of the finance sector which gained 0.66%. |
Global markets down as US may end QE this yearNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| The JSE All Share had fallen 0.14% just after midday Friday, weighed on by continued losses in gold mining shares. |
JSE slips after yesterday’s record highNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| At midday on Thursday, the JSE All Share had slipped 0.05% after yesterday’s record high as losses in gold mining and resource shares offset gains in industrials. |
Global markets up as US averts fiscal cliffNatalie MayerJanuary 2013| The JSE All Share was up 1.53% by midday on Wednesday, the first day of trading in 2013. Strong gains in resources and gold shares led the local bourse higher. |
All eyes on the US for resolution of budget talksNatalie MayerDecember 2012| At noon on Friday the JSE All Share was down 0.25%, as losses in resource shares weighed on the local bourse. |
JSE up in quiet trade after holidaysNatalie MayerDecember 2012| At midday on Thursday, the JSE All Share was up 0.28% led by gains in gold and resource shares in quiet trading after the Christmas holidays. |
Losses in resources lead JSE downNatalie MayerDecember 2012| The JSE All Share was down 0.3% by noon on Friday, with losses in resource shares weighing on the local bourse after investors took profits. |
JSE flat as US fiscal cliff worries hamper gainsNatalie MayerDecember 2012| At midday on Thursday, the JSE All Share was flat, edging up 0.05% as concern about the US fiscal cliff dampened the bourse’s recent winning streak. |
JSE continues winning streakNatalie MayerDecember 2012| By midday Wednesday, the JSE All Share had continued its recent winning streak, rising 0.46% boosted by gains in resource and financial shares. |
Markets positive as US fiscal cliff resolution looks likelyNatalie MayerDecember 2012| Strengthening resource shares boosted the JSE All Share, helping the local bourse to gain 0.42% by midday on Tuesday. |
JSE slips 0.1% in quiet trade on Friday morningNatalie MayerDecember 2012| The JSE All Share had edged down 0.10% by noon on Friday, led by losses in gold and resource shares. |
Markets lower as optimism after US news fadesNatalie MayerDecember 2012| The JSE All Share had slipped 0.19% by 12:00 on Thursday, erasing earlier gains that came on the back of news that the US Federal Reserve would continue with economic stimulus measures. |
Local markets quiet ahead of CPI dataNatalie MayerDecember 2012| Gains in resouce shares led the JSE All Share up 0.23% by noon on Wednesday, offsetting losses in gold and financial shares. |
Industrial shares lead JSE upwardsNatalie MayerDecember 2012| On Tuesday at noon, the JSE All Share had edged up 0.2% led by industrial stocks, though losses in gold shares limited overall gains. |
Financial sector losses weigh on JSENatalie MayerDecember 2012| At midday on Monday, the JSE All Share had slipped 0.2% as losses in financial shares weighed and investors consolidated their positions. |
Markets await US payroll dataNatalie MayerDecember 2012| The JSE All Share had slipped 0.47% by midday on Friday, as losses in gold shares and resource stocks weighed. |
Investors positive but cautious ahead of economic dataNatalie MayerDecember 2012| The JSE All Share was up 0.38% by noon on Thursday, though trading under yesterday’s highs as investors await economic data due today. |
JSE hits new highsNatalie MayerDecember 2012| Stronger resource shares and gains in gold counters were leading the JSE All Share upwards by 0.68% at midday, hitting new highs. |
Editor’s NoteNatalie MayerDecember 2012 | | Welcome to the last issue of MarketViews for 2012.
We are having our annual festive season sale, so if you’re looking for technical analysis programmes, subscriptions, or are keen to enrol for the correspondence Premium Investment Course, now is a great time to purchase... |
Remarkable parallels to this time last yearDwaine van VuurenDecember 2012 | | Market conditions strongly parallel those of this time last year, except for one - the JSE in dollar terms is not so much a bargain anymore. |
Renegade economists: How to profit from the Prophets of Doom AJ CilliersDecember 2012 | | The most prominent renegade economists advise us on the best way to invest in the potentially troubled times ahead. |
US fiscal cliff worries continue to weigh on local marketsNatalie MayerDecember 2012| The JSE All Share had lost 0.04% by noon on Tuesday, as losses in gold shares continued to weigh on the local bourse. |
Losses in gold shares weigh on JSENatalie MayerDecember 2012| Monday midday saw the JSE All Share down 0.34% led by plunging gold shares, which had fallen 2.29%. |
JSE edges down after yesterday’s rallyNatalie MayerNovember 2012| By 12:00 on Friday, the JSE All Share had edged down 0.11% after yesterday’s rally, weighed on by losses in financial shares. |
US budget optimism boosts global marketsNatalie MayerNovember 2012| By noon on Thursday the JSE All Share was 1.01% up, with gold shares charging upwards by 5.12% and resources 2.28% higher. |
Markets down on poor global economic outlook, fiscal cliff Natalie MayerNovember 2012| The JSE All Share had fallen 0.63% by noon on Wednesday, as losses in gold and resource shares weighed. |
JSE flat after yesterday’s record highsNatalie MayerNovember 2012| Friday midday saw the JSE All Share slipping by 0.06% after yesterday’s record highs. |
Markets down ahead of today’s European meeting on Greece Natalie MayerNovember 2012| On Monday at noon, the JSE All Share had slipped 0.33%. |
Markets rise as Greek Aid Deal settled Natalie MayerNovember 2012| By midday on Tuesday, the JSE All Share had gained 0.34% after closing in the red on Monday, amid global concern for the outcome of the eurozone finance ministers’ meeting on Greece. |
Positive manufacturing data from China boosts global marketsNatalie MayerNovember 2012| The JSE All Share was up 1.01% at midday, hitting a record high of 37877.76 points, with strong gains in the gold sector. Investors were optimistic following the release of positive manufacturing data from the US and China. |
JSE continues to climb led by industrialsNatalie MayerNovember 2012| The JSE All Share had gained 0.39% by midday on Wednesday, with industrial shares rising 0.71% and eading the upward trend. Gold shares managed to pause yesterday’s losses, edging up by 0.01%. |
US markets higher after promising talks and home sales dataNatalie MayerNovember 2012| By noon on Tuesday, the JSE All Share had risen by 0.17%. Losses in gold and financial shares were more than offset by gains in industrial and resource shares. |
Weaker US dollar boosts gold and oil pricesNatalie MayerNovember 2012| The JSE All Share had gained 0.75% by midday on Monday, led by a recovery in gold and resource shares. |
JSE still reeling from gold producer’s downgradeNatalie MayerNovember 2012| On Friday the JSE All Share had given up 0.61%, weighed on by losses in the gold sector which had slipped 1% by noon. Investors continued to sell gold shares after local producer Gold Fields’ credit rating was severely downgraded yesterday. |
US fiscal cliff worries dampen global marketsNatalie MayerNovember 2012| The JSE All Share had lost 0.51% by noon on Thursday, as falling resource shares weighed on the local bourse. Worries about the US fiscal cliff and eurozone uncertainty continued to plague investors, inspiring caution. |
Gains in resources and financials boost JSENatalie MayerNovember 2012| At noon on Wednesday, gains in resources and financials were leading the JSE up 0.15%. |
Stikes continue to hit mining profitsNatalie MayerNovember 2012| By midday on Tuesday, the JSE All Share had fallen 0.42% led by losses in the resources sector. |
Chinese exports higher than expected, but markets mixed Natalie MayerNovember 2012| At noon on Monday the JSE All Share had risen 0.2% led by gains in industrials, though resource shares had experienced losses of 0.64%. |
Resources lead JSE downwards after poor mining dataNatalie MayerNovember 2012| The JSE had fallen 0.46% by midday on Friday, led by losses in the resources sector after poor mining data for September - particularly in the gold sector - was released yesterday. |
US fiscal deficit has investors concernedNatalie MayerNovember 2012| At midday, the JSE All Share had inched up by 0.09% after quiet trade this morning. Investors await September’s figures for the mining and manufacturing industry, due later today. |
Obama win leaves global markets flatNatalie MayerNovember 2012| The JSE All Share had slipped fractionally by 0.05% at midday on Wednesday, as global markets expected business as usual after US President Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term. |
Editor’s NoteNatalie MayerNovember 2012 | | Dear Readers
Welcome to the November issue of MarketViews.
Sharenet is now on Twitter! Follow us on @SharenetSA and we’ll keep you updated with stock market news and views... |
How to benefit from the out-performing ALSH indexDwaine van VuurenNovember 2012 | | The ALSH index has out-performed the SA TOP40 Index over the last few years. Though there are no Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) to allow the retail investor to benefit from this per se, the RMBMID ETF can become a very powerful tool when coupled with macro investment timing. |
Marikana, mining and your share portfolio Nicole CameronNovember 2012 | | The mining sector may well be in a dismal state due to declining global demand, local supply-side issues and the threat of nationalisation, but perhaps an even greater current threat are the recent labour catastrophes. |
Where should you invest for the next ten years?AJ CilliersNovember 2012 | | Warren Buffett once attributed his initial investment success to the fact that he had "bought into the demographics" in America. Demographics relates to the study of population structures, such as age. Understanding how these structures can affect market performance can help you to successfully plan your investments. |
Editor’s NoteNatalie MayerSeptember 2012 | | Welcome to the October issue of MarketViews.
If you haven’t already been bombarded by the constant reports in the foreign press, the next US presidential election will be taking place on the 6th of November this year. If you haven’t taken any interest thus far, now is the time to sit up and pay attention... |
Playing the Bernanke Put on the JSEDwaine van VuurenSeptember 2012 | | The US FED embarked on a 4th round of quantitative easing, with QE3 joining QE1, QE2 and Operation Twist. Together with the EU bond buying program, these massive liquidity events historically have always signaled positive returns for the stock markets, especially emerging markets with resources exposure. |
Shares, ETFs, Forex, CFDs: What should you be trading?Nicole CameronSeptember 2012 | | Today’s traders are exposed to a growing number of trading instruments, from shares to Forex, CFDs and ETFs. Each offers different degrees of volatility, and has unique pros and cons. Learn which instrument suits your needs and trading style... |
Thank You, Mr President! How to benefit from the US Presidential ElectionAJ CilliersSeptember 2012 | | As investors, we might view the US elections with a lot more interest if we could somehow benefit from the process. The good news is that we can... |
The Mining Sector: Why government must provide good leadershipZivanemoyo ChinzaraSeptember 2012 | | The SA mining sector has been caught between ’a rock and a hard place’ with domestic supply-side issues and global demand-side constraints squeezing from opposite ends. If domestic issues are not handled with care, economic repercussions could be catastrophic... |
Editor’s NoteNatalie MayerSeptember 2012 | | Welcome to September’s issue of MarketViews. We have three quite different articles in this Spring edition to help you think through current issues whether you are a beginner, intermediate or experienced investor... |
Investing jargon 101Nicole CameronSeptember 2012 | | If you’re entering the world of stocks and bonds, you’re going to need to familiarise yourself with some of the lingo that does the rounds. |
Is it time to focus on income?AJ CilliersSeptember 2012 | | Are stock markets likely to continue upward over the next few months, or are we in fact on the brink of another recession? If the economists are right, an emphasis on share price growth might need to give way to a focus on income through dividends... |
SA TOP40 gains 8% from historically low valuationsDwaine van VuurenSeptember 2012 | | With most of the negative recession expectations already priced into resources counters, historically low interest rates and inexpensive valuations, there is a strong argument that a likely SA recession will have little negative impact on the JSE... |
JSE Magazine - Reading that mattersSharenetAugust 2012 | | JSE is the official business and lifestyle quarterly of the JSE Limited. JSE is bold, authorative, intelligent, and sophisticated. The editorial is topical and focuses on developments in finance, business and executive lifestyle. |
10 things to avoid when investingAJ CilliersJuly 2012 | | Whereas success depends to a large extent on a successful positive strategy, there are also behaviours to be avoided. Here are the ten key behaviours you should steer clear of when implementing a successful investment strategy. |
Editor’s NoteNatalie MayerJuly 2012 | | Dear Readers
Welcome to the August issue of MarketViews.
In light of technical analysis signals that suggest an approaching recession, I thought it would be helpful to look at investing options for periods of low returns on the market... |
Massive sector rotation makes for 40% variance in sideways marketDwaine van VuurenJuly 2012 | | The JSE has remained trapped in a 5% trading range for 6 months now. Not much fun for the SATRIX40 investors...
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Where to invest during recessionNatalie MayerJuly 2012 | | Though you might be tempted to just leave your share investments alone and wait for better days, a more active approach can see your money grow even during economic lows. |
Editor’s NoteNatalie MayerJuly 2012 | | Dear Readers
Welcome to the July issue of MarketViews.
Perhaps it is time to rethink some of the investing principles we take for granted. AJ Cilliers explores the link between risk and return, and discovers that... |
EU: What will happen if Greece stays or goes?Nicole CameronJuly 2012 | | It’s tempting to wonder what all the fuss is about. After all, Greece only contributes 2% to the total euro zone economy... |
Is defence the best form of attack?AJ CilliersJuly 2012 | | A mountain of evidence seems to confirm the positive link between risk and return. However, not all academics and practitioners agree. Is conventional wisdom seriously flawed? Could low-risk shares provide better returns? |
SA TOP40: Valuations at 16 year lows, but they could get lowerDwaine van VuurenJuly 2012 | | We are witness to a rare moment in time, when valuations are at multi-decade lows.
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10 Of The World’s Best Investors and TradersNicole CameronMay 2012 | | Familiarise yourself with the world’s top traders and learn from the best...
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Aquacor’s new development: Strong investment fundamentals drive salesSharenetMay 2012 | | It may be winter in Cape Town, but there’s a touch of spring in the Mother City as 55% of the 123 units at "The Factory" have already sold; an incredible response considering the recovering nature of the property investment market... |
Avoiding Your Behavioural Blind SpotsAJ CilliersMay 2012 | | Behavioural finance experts have identified a number of ways in which we fool ourselves. This can have a disastrous impact on our investment decisions, so we need to become aware of these behavioural blind spots before it’s too late... |
Editor’s NoteNatalie MayerMay 2012 | | We’re starting our line-up this month with a fun "who’s who" list of ten of the world’s best traders and investors. Nicole Cameron offers a short biography of their successes and the strategies they pursued, to whet your appetite for further investigation... |
Is Economic Growth Good For Us?Natalie MayerMay 2012 | | We are brought up on the idea that "growth is good", and rejoice when we hear that the economy has grown. But is this really the case? We review Tim Jackson’s book "Prosperity Without Growth" for answers... |
Reading that mattersSharenetMay 2012 | | JSE is the official business and lifestyle quarterly of the JSE Limited. JSE is bold, authorative, intelligent, and sophisticated... |
SA on the brink of recession?Dwaine van VuurenMay 2012 | | Not every SA recession has resulted in poor stock market returns, but most have. If the economy slows down, so does earnings growth, and we all know earnings drives share prices... |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerMay 2012 | | Dear Readers
Welcome to the latest issue of MarketViews. In his last article for MarketViews, Nicholas van der Meer leaves us with four solid principles for a life of successful investing... |
Emotion and the investment process AJ CilliersMay 2012 | | What is the link between investing and emotion, and what are the implications for stock market investors? |
Four principles for a life of successful investingNicholas van der MeerMay 2012 | | Investing action motivated by greed or fear is the primary reason why investors lose money. |
Bull market for construction sector - but which shares to get?Dwaine van VuurenApril 2012 | | The construction sector is now officially back in a bull market. This may sound like you have missed the boat, but all is not lost... |
Controlling risk: 6 principles for investment success AJ CilliersApril 2012 | | Howard Marks, co-founder and chairman of Oaktree Capital Management, believes that the first task of an investor is to control risk. During the financial turmoil of 2007/2008, Oaktree performed better than most of its competitors. |
Does gender affect investing success?Nicole CameronApril 2012 | | When it comes to investment success, fortune seems to favour the ladies... |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerApril 2012 | | Dear Readers
Welcome to the latest edition of MarketViews.
Thanks to the advanced technical analysis of Powerstocks, Dwaine van Vuuren has some useful share tips for you if you’re thinking of investing in the construction sector... |
In the spotlight - ClareMart Auction GroupSharenetApril 2012 | | In our company spotlight this month, we take a look at leading auction house Claremart Auction Group. Founded in 1976, they have become a first choice in asset acquisition and disposal and have built up an impressive team of auctioneers... |
Why China is America's last hopeNicholas van der MeerApril 2012 | | America can blame its economic issues on any number of political and financial decisions, but ultimately their problem is a more pervasive one. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerMarch 2012 | | Welcome to the March edition of MarketViews
We have three important articles for you to read in this month’s issue, all of which refer to the quality of investing information... |
Ethical InvestingNicholas van der MeerMarch 2012 | | Investing should be about much more than the search for better returns. At some point we need to step back and think about how our actions as investors affect the people and the world around us. |
Evaluating Shares: Is P/E or QoE the way to go?AJ CilliersMarch 2012 | | While the usefulness of the P/E ratio is obvious, it can be manipulated. Investors should therefore not just consider earnings, but the quality of those earnings in the QoE ratio. |
Recession: Just how much warning do you need anyway?Dwaine van VuurenMarch 2012 | | Long 10-12 month recession warnings would be useful for governments and some business leaders, but is this true for the stock market participant? |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerFebruary 2012 | | Welcome to the first edition of MarketViews for 2012!
AJ Cilliers wrestles with the idea that most of us don’t plan our investing because it seems too complicated, and because we believe that fund managers... |
KISS your way to investment success AJ CilliersFebruary 2012 | | I am beginning to suspect that the reason why so many of us fail to invest on a regular basis is because it seems so complicated. |
The New Conference Board LEI: First lookDwaine van VuurenFebruary 2012 | | The much anticipated Conference Board LEI revision is out. Many people feared that the removal of M2 from the composite would plunge it into recession territory, but that is not the case.
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What would you do if we had another Great Depression?Nicholas van der MeerFebruary 2012 | | Do we assume that we've been saved from another Depression and it's back to business as usual? Or should we be sceptical about the 'recovery' and expect a depression to hit us any day now? |
US State-wide co-incident indicators give recession ALL CLEAR (for now)Dwaine van VuurenDecember 2011 | | PowerStocks Research releases its US co-incident recession conclusion for November...
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Dollar price of JSE points to positive gains ahead Dwaine van VuurenDecember 2011 | | The JSE continues to exhibit remarkable resilience despite deep contractions in various other world indices.
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Editor's NoteNatalie MayerDecember 2011 | | Welcome to the last edition of MarketViews for 2011... |
Investing for Income: Bonds or Equities? AJ CilliersDecember 2011 | | Investors requiring a reliable income stream opt for either equities or government bonds. Deciding which, will depend on a number of variables... |
The 6 steps to escaping the debt trapNicholas van der MeerDecember 2011 | | In last month's article I demonstrated why the real rich don't do debt. This month I would like to share with readers the 6 steps to escaping the debt trap. |
SASFIN Start-to-finish Import Solution SharenetNovember 2011 | | Cash flow and access to capital or funding is the challenge every business faces to either be profitable in business or to grow - especially when it comes to any business dependent on importing... |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerNovember 2011 | | 2011 draws rapidly to a close – have you been to one of Sharenet’s investing seminars yet? If you haven’t, it’s not too late. Sharenet is touring South Africa’s major cities one last time before the new year. They’ll be in Durban on 12 November, Cape Town on 19 November, and in Johannesburg on 26 November. Book your seat today! |
Equities, Bonds or Money Market - where to now for investors? AJ CilliersNovember 2011 | | How are the events playing out in Europe and the rest of the world are likely to affect us? Is the outlook equally gloomy for the JSE, and for our bond and money markets? |
US recession fears: overcooked?Dwaine van VuurenNovember 2011 | | It was interesting to observe the doom and gloom about a US double dip rise over the months, culminating in ECRI proclaiming the recession a "sure thing". |
Why being debt-free is the best investment you can makeNicholas van der MeerNovember 2011 | | While vast numbers of investors in South Africa (and worldwide) are scratching around for returns in a rather barren-looking basket of traditional investments, there remains one place where returns are 100% guaranteed and investment carries zero risk. |
A contrarian view of goldNicholas van der MeerOctober 2011 | | Is buying gold really the best investment decision? |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerOctober 2011 | | Welcome to the October edition of MarketViews.
We’re excited to announce the release of the new Sharenet app for iPhone, also compatible with the iPad and iPod Touch. Users will now be able to view a spot screen of the most popular indices, commodities, world markets and even forex rates, all at a 15 minute delay - for free! |
Global bear market - but remarkable performance from JSE Dwaine van VuurenOctober 2011 | | Though the bulk of world indices are now officially in bear market territory (declines of 20% or more), the JSE has staged an unbelievably remarkable performance in these uncertain times. |
Preparing for a double dip recessionCharles WilsonOctober 2011 | | The financial markets rallied last week amid speculation that Europe's leaders had been bullied by the rest of the world into at last putting together a "big plan" to strengthen the euro, but.. |
Volatile markets: how should we be investing?Nicholas van der MeerSeptember 2011 | | The month of August was rough on investors. Investors fled from emerging markets, the JSE plummeted almost 15%, and the rand lost around 40c to the US dollar. |
Are investors moonstruck? AJ CilliersSeptember 2011 | | Most rational people would be inclined to laugh, but some serious-minded academics have in fact asked: Do lunar phases affect the securities market?
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Are we sliding into a recession?Dwaine van VuurenSeptember 2011 | | Recently we witnessed a 14% plus slide in the JSE index from its February highs, in the wake of concerns of a slowing US economy. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerSeptember 2011 | | Dear Readers
Welcome to September’s edition of MarketViews.
Recession fears have dominated recent headlines – how will you cope if global markets continue to weaken? |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerAugust 2011 | | Here’s what we have in store for you this month:
Charles Wilson unpacks the hot topic of the last few weeks – the possibility of US default. He explains why the debt ceiling of US$14.3 trillion needed to be raised and why the deadlock between the Democrats and the Republicans could have had disastrous consequences for an already weak global economy. |
On the brink of defaultCharles WilsonAugust 2011 | | Nerves have been jangling in global financial markets as the US House of Representatives remained gridlocked regarding the raising of the federal debt ceiling until the very last moment... |
Piotroski Investing - can you still find Dwaine van VuurenAugust 2011 | | The JSE is currently trading above its 10-year P/E average. It's not expensive, but not cheap either, which begs the question: are there any deep valued shares out there for the patient value investor? |
The Investment Club Checklist
(part 2)Nicholas van der MeerAugust 2011 | | In this second instalment of a two-part series, we will look at the remaining considerations for investors who are considering joining or starting their own investment club. |
Buy on the dip, but buy what?Dwaine van VuurenJuly 2011 | | Our personal experience in the safest way to capitalise on a buy-on-the-dip is to just acquire some SATRIX40, or for better subsequent gains, SATRIX-RESI. But wily stock picking can do much better than these two ETFs. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerJuly 2011 | | Welcome to the July edition of MarketViews. We have some interesting articles in store for you this month – so read on! |
The Investment Club Checklist &NBSP(part 1)Nicholas van der MeerJuly 2011 | | If you want to progress as an investor, it might be a great idea to join an investment club or start your own. |
Commissions Slashed on Equity CFDsSharenetJuly 2011 | | Sharenet CFDs in association with IG Markets is slashing the commission rate of trading equity CFDs from 0.35% to 0.2%. |
Stock Market Investing: Is Too Much Choice Bad for Your Returns? AJ CilliersJuly 2011 | | How can we deal with the problem of choice, to ensure that we are not overwhelmed or disadvantaged? |
The 5 Most Profitable Penny Share PatternsSharenetJuly 2011 | | Simply sign up to receive the daily, MoneyMorning e-Letter and we'll immediately e-mail you the new 5 Most Profitable Penny Share Patterns... |
9 ways to ruin a successful company (part 3 of 3)Nicholas van der MeerJune 2011 | | In the concluding installment of the series, we examine the last three ways to ruin a successful company. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerJune 2011 | | Dear Readers
Welcome to the June edition of MarketViews!
Now that it's officially winter, you have a little more licence to spend your lunch break indoors, coffee in hand, perusing an article of interest. In this issue, our writers offer you a selection of topics and analysis ranging from the broad to the particular, to inform and stimulate... |
Gateway Travel offers value-packed holidays at unbeatable pricesSharenetJune 2011 | | Take advantage of these fantastic offers to Thailand, the Victoria Falls or to self-drive destinations across South Africa... |
Inside Sharenet's Trading and Investing SeminarJean ChristopherJune 2011 | | Recently I decided to take the plunge and "grow my own money". Not knowing anything practical about trading or investing, I quickly signed myself up for Sharenet's 1-day seminar. |
Still Gas in the JSE Tank?Dwaine van VuurenJune 2011 | | The JSE has had an enormous run in the first two years of this bull market. But is there any juice left in the tank? |
The Biggest Company You Never Heard OfCharles WilsonJune 2011 | | Glencore's global dealing in metals, agriculture and oil, and a well-earned reputation for being on the right side of most trades, mean that it is regarded with a mixture of envy and awe by competitors. But if you live outside the world of commodities trading or corporate finance, the company that South African Glasenberg heads, Glencore, is probably “the biggest company that you never heard of”. |
9 Ways to Ruin a Successful Company (Part 2 of 3)Nicholas van der MeerMay 2011 | | Following on from last month's article, we continue to examine nine common ways in which businesses fail. |
AfrAsia Bank - 2011 Best Bank in MauritiusSharenetMay 2011 | | Awarded by Euromoney as “Best Private Bank in Mauritius” 2011, AfrAsia has recently launched its Global Custody Services to complete its Private and International Banking offering to its clients... |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerMay 2011 | | Over the course of this month, you will notice a few changes... our articles will soon appear on the Sharenet website at www.sharenet.co.za. For those of you not familiar with the company, Sharenet provides real-time trading and investment data, as well as a platform for online trading. Sharenet’s website enjoys around 4 million page views every month, and we look forward to offering our unique content to new readers. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerMay 2011
Letters from Omaha - Warren BuffetAJ CilliersMay 2011 | | Here are some lessons for investors from investment guru Warren Buffett’s 2011 letter to shareholders. |
THE ZWEIG LAZY-LONG SIGNALDwaine van VuurenMay 2011 | | The Zweig Breadth Thrust was a market timing instrument invented by Martin Zweig, author of the 1970’s best-seller “Winning on Wall Street”. If the “Intelligent Investor” is the fundamental investors’ Bible, then this has to be the Market Timers equivalent... |
9 Ways to Ruin a Successful Company (Part 1 of 3)Nicholas van der MeerApril 2011 | | The successful investor should be as vigilant about identifying and avoiding bad companies as he is about investing in good ones. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerApril 2011 | | The longer I am exposed to financial news, views and trends, the more convinced I am that theory’s usefulness is far more limited than some would have us think.
Certain assumptions made are so far from reality as to render theory practically nonsensical. How can one pretend that “humans will always make rational decisions” or imagine a state of “perfect information”, for example (both foundational assumptions in economic theory)? |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerApril 2011
Fosback signals of great rarityDwaine van VuurenApril 2011 | | Lets take a closer look at a rare technical signal that fired only 2 weeks ago, it's implications and how one may choose to respond to the opportunity it presents... |
Insider TradingCharles WilsonApril 2011 | | David Sokol, once a candidate to succeed Warren Buffett as the head of Berkshire Hathaway, resigned at the end of March as it was disclosed he helped negotiate a takeover while buying stock in the target company. |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherApril 2011 | | It is not a surprise that government chief communicator Jimmy Manyi’s comments about an “over-concentration” of coloured people in the Western Cape have provoked such an outrage. |
Shelley Point Hotel, Spa and Country Club - the complete packageSharenetApril 2011 | | Whether you are looking for excitement, relaxation or a venue for a critical business weekend, Shelley Point Hotel, Spa & Country Club is the perfect destination for you. |
Towards a New Finance and Investment Paradigm AJ CilliersApril 2011 | | Last month’s article hinted at a number of anomalies which cannot be explained by current finance and investing theories. It is now time to consider these, as evidence that the paradigm may indeed need shifting. |
Time for a new paradigm?AJ CilliersMarch 2011 | | The more steeped you become in financial theory, the more you come to see the world in a particular way... |
AfrAsia Bank: Discover offshore banking benefits in the Mauritius IFCSharenetMarch 2011 | | Mauritius has become a favoured financial destination for South Africans, whether companies wishing to establish offshore subsidiaries, or individuals wanting to invest their offshore investment allowances. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerMarch 2011
Oil pressure risingCharles WilsonMarch 2011 | | Oil has surged closer to $120 a barrel as investors fretted about the prospects for a region that provides 35% of the world’s oil. |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherMarch 2011 | | The government has moved to a more accountable and transparent budgeting process, much of this due to the sterling work put in by former Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel, and continued by Pravin Gordhan... |
Why did Standard Bank cut 2000 jobs?Nicholas van der MeerMarch 2011 | | In October last year, Standard Bank announced its intention to retrench 2000 employees. Despite CEO Jacko Maree’s claim that job cuts were absolutely necessary in light of expected pressure on revenue, there seems to be more to this tale... |
Should I buy shares with borrowed money?Nicholas van der MeerFebruary 2011 | | Conventional wisdom has proposed that it is a good strategy to leverage your investments so long as the expected return on the investment is greater than the borrowing costs. |
Ask Our Expert - February 2011February 2011 | | Returning to our Ask the Experts panel this month is MarketViews author Nicholas van der Meer. Here he answers a question from reader Les Munger about investing safely and RSA government Retail Bonds... |
Can charting beat the market? AJ CilliersFebruary 2011 | | Fundamental analysts and academics are highly critical of technical analysis, as it flies in the face of accepted finance theory. Yet many professional investors not only use technical analysis and charting, but swear by its effectiveness. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerFebruary 2011
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerFebruary 2011 | | We’re pleased to report an enthusiastic turnout at Sharenet’s Cape Town and Johannesburg investment course days in February. Speakers Dr. Issy Bacher and Dwaine van Vuuren introduced course attendees to the theory and practice of technical analysis, and imparted techniques that can increase returns up to 50% and beyond.
Catch the Sharenet team in Port Elizabeth on Saturday 16 April and learn how to manage your portfolio better. |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherFebruary 2011 | | When President Jacob Zuma presents his State of the Nation address in Parliament on Thursday 10 February, everyone will be waiting for details on how he will deliver on his biggest promise of his presidency: to create hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of jobs. |
The World in 2011Charles WilsonFebruary 2011 | | Asset allocations, polls and confidence indices indicate widespread optimism about the investment outlook for 2011.
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Editor's NoteNatalie MayerNovember 2010 | | It is simply astonishing that the end of the year has rolled around already. MarketViews has enjoyed many changes this year, such as the introduction of the ‘Ask Our Expert’ column and our personal investing series by Nicholas van der Meer, and we look forward to more exciting changes in 2011... |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerNovember 2010
Gaining financial knowledge – Is it worth the effort? AJ CilliersNovember 2010 | | How much does financial education actually help us? Will it improve our financial behaviour and allow us to make better investment decisions? |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherNovember 2010 | | It is a good time of year to hand out awards to some politicians and public figures who were in the news... |
Rescue of Ireland appears inevitableCharles WilsonNovember 2010 | | Ireland has been forced into talks over a financial rescue, even as European Union leaders battle to shield Portugal from the resurgent debt crisis, and as further doubts surfaced over Greece’s economic health. |
Should I rent or should I buy?Nicholas van der MeerNovember 2010 | | The question of whether one should rent or buy a home has plagued the minds of many potential first-time homebuyers... |
Dividends and Share Prices: Connecting the Dots AJ CilliersNovember 2010 | | The market may cause unpredictable fluctuations in share prices, though the underlying company fundamentals may not have changed at all. Future dividend flows may represent a “truer” picture of a share’s value than the share price quoted by the market at any one time. |
10 points to consider before buying that investment propertyNicholas van der MeerNovember 2010 | | Property cannot be ignored simply because of a depressed market. For those still interested in property, here is a 10-point checklist to ensure that you invest wisely. |
Ask Our Expert - November 2010November 2010 | | We are pleased to have had a flood of queries since beginning this column. Unfortunately we have not been able to answer each and every query, but we have endeavoured to respond to the most frequently asked questions.
Returning to our Ask the Experts panel this month are MarketViews authors AJ Cilliers and Nicholas van der Meer.
Keep the questions coming by sending them to editor@marketviews.co.za and we will forward them to our panel of experts. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerNovember 2010
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerNovember 2010 | | Welcome to the November edition of MarketViews!
In a media environment that more often offers simple reporting than thoughtful analysis, our writers are a breath of fresh air. Committed to quality research and writing, as well as providing insightful commentary, they seek to inform you, advise you and even challenge your thinking... |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherNovember 2010 | | Zuma still has many debts to repay, particularly to people who supported him in his bid to become ANC president at Polokwane. His challenge is to balance the need to repay these debts with getting the right mix of people in his Cabinet who can deliver. |
Runaway CommoditiesCharles WilsonNovember 2010 | | It seems as though the renewed Quantitative Easing policies of the Federal Reserve are blowing a bubble into commodity markets. However, for some, predictions of a bull run to end all bull runs are hype, evidence of a growing bubble in commodities that could quickly burst... |
Ask Our Expert - October 2010October 2010 | | On our expert panel this month are MarketViews authors AJ Cilliers and Nicholas van der Meer.
Thank you to Manuel, John and all our readers who emailed us with their investing questions. Keep the questions coming by sending them to editor@marketviews.co.za and we will forward them to our panel of experts. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerOctober 2010
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerOctober 2010 | | Prepare yourself for the final quarter of 2010 with this edition of MarketViews.
Be sure to vote in this month’s poll where our question is: Should Walmart take over Massmart? We also have four choice articles to stimulate your thinking on property, currency, bargain hunting, and politics... |
Bargain Hunting: When the equity sale comes to town AJ CilliersOctober 2010 | | It is beginning to look as though the recovery shown by equity markets in the aftermath of the financial crisis may be something of a false dawn. |
Currency WarCharles WilsonOctober 2010 | | A spate of large deals - most recently, Wal-mart’s offer for Massmart - have combined with a record high gold price to create a tidal wave of positive sentiment towards the Rand.
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Is it time to get back into property?Nicholas van der MeerOctober 2010 | | In 2008, the housing bubbles in the US, EU and parts of the developed East burst quite spectacularly. Investors fled from property. Almost three years down the line, we are asking the question, ‘Is it time to invest in property again?’ |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherOctober 2010 | | The ANC is no different from other ruling parties throughout the world, which needs to deal with conflicting demands from their alliance partners, whether the alliance is formal or not. |
Can You Profit from IPOs? AJ CilliersSeptember 2010 | | Can you, as an ordinary investor, benefit from an Initial Public Offering (IPO)? The answer is a cautious yes... |
Claim your Free Copy of Buying gold for financial profit and protectionFleet Street PublicationsSeptember 2010 | | Fleet Street Publications is offering MarketViews' readers a complimentary copy of their special report "Buying gold for financial profit and protection". Read more by clicking the article. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerSeptember 2010 | | Welcome to the Spring edition of MarketViews!
First off, I must apologise for an error in last month’s issue. The email address listed as part of our ‘Ask the Experts’ launch was not receiving emails correctly. This problem has been rectified and you will now once again be able to direct your investment questions to editor@sharenet.co.za and we will forward them to our panel of experts... |
How to identify companies that can growNicholas van der MeerSeptember 2010 | | In the short term, share prices are driven by sentiment, which is impossible to predict. As long-term investors we focus our attention on earnings, because in the long run, share price growth tracks earnings growth. |
HSBC-Nedbank PART IICharles WilsonSeptember 2010 | | The potential deal between HSBC, Old Mutual and Nedbank is a landmark for the South African corporate landscape, far more than the Barclays takeover of ABSA... |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherSeptember 2010 | | The public sector strikes have come at a huge cost to the economy, but the biggest cost might be in terms of the rupture that has formed between the tri-partite alliance of the ANC, Cosatu and the SACP. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerAugust 2010 | | New! Ask our Expert
Do you have a burning investment question? Email editor@sharenet.co.za and see our expert’s answer published in the next edition of MarketViews. |
Finding Value with Free Cash Flows AJ CilliersAugust 2010 | | How do you know when a price reflects a share’s true value? Free cash flow is the ‘spare’ cash available to investors in the firm. The higher the FCF, the higher the value of the company and the higher the value of its shares... |
Nedbank: The Takeover TargetCharles WilsonAugust 2010 | | The rumour that just never dies is the potential takeover of Nedbank by HSBC or Standard Chartered, two UK-based and emerging-market focused banks... |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherAugust 2010 | | I do not like to write about opposition parties, because I believe that I should rather direct my criticism to the people who are in power. But I cannot remain quiet about the circus that has evolved out of the Congress of the People... |
SharenetCFDs launch receives flood of interestNatalie MayerAugust 2010 | | Sharenet has launched SharenetCFDs, a service which allows investors to trade CFDs online. According to CEO Anthony Walker, and Business Development Manager Mark Mayer, interest in SharenetCFDs has been fantastic... |
The Importance of Competitive AdvantageNicholas van der MeerAugust 2010 | | A competitive advantage is any characteristic that enables a competitor to edge its peers. In business, this usually translates into the ability that helps the company better increase shareholder and stakeholder value... |
Blue Chip to Hot TipCharles WilsonJuly 2010 | | BP has undergone a remarkable and rapid transformation in the eyes of investors: from a blue chip staple of institutional portfolios to a day-trader stock. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerJuly 2010 | | Dear Readers
In this July issue of MarketViews, you will find... |
How to use a PE ratio to value a companyNicholas van der MeerJuly 2010 | | The price you pay for a share is just as important as deciding which shares to acquire. You cannot simply purchase shares at any price - you need to purchase them at the right price. |
In Search of Level Ten AJ CilliersJuly 2010 | | For most countries, the economic future is anything but rosy. Old economic certainties are being questioned and some have suggested that shareholder value creation is no longer an appropriate objective for profit-seeking companies. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherJuly 2010 | | The publicity we have received by hosting the World Cup is, I believe, worth every cent we have spent on infrastructure. |
10 things to look for before you invest in a company (Part 2)Nicholas van der MeerJune 2010 | | Continuing from last month’s article, find out about the five quantitative aspects of a company that you should investigate before investing. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerJune 2010 | | After much deliberation and preparation, the 2010 World Cup is finally here!
The atmosphere is electric with anticipation, even amongst those who don’t know a throw-in from a corner. Drive for just a few minutes and you’re sure to see the SA flag flown from buildings, from car aerials or even as covers on wing mirrors, which have proven quite popular here in Cape Town... |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherJune 2010 | | I was convinced the madness related to next year’s municipal elections would only start after the 2010 World Cup, but it seems to have started already. |
The Fundamental Five – A Simple Guide to Picking the WinnersAJ CilliersJune 2010 | | To find shares that will raise your pulse rate and perform well above the market average, you need to focus on five fundamental issues... |
The Return of FearCharles WilsonJune 2010 | | Anyone who thought that the €750m IMF-EU bailout would calm markets has had a rude awakening… |
Fighting Your Way to Financial Fitness AJ CilliersMay 2010 | | I’ll never forget my first credit card. It arrived one day in the post, an unexpected gift from my bank. I was surprised and secretly pleased; it seemed to confirm my belief that I was headed up in the world, an acknowledgement that I was becoming a man of substance. |
10 things to look for before you invest in a company (Part 1)Nicholas van der MeerMay 2010 | | Being clear on the types of companies in which you want to invest is vital – it will help filter over four hundred shares down to a shortlist of serious investment possibilities. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerMay 2010
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherMay 2010 | | Now that we have had 16 years of freedom, we are realising that freedom has never really been defined, and we are asking ourselves whether the sacrifices made by many have been worth it... |
What Did Goldman Do?Charles WilsonMay 2010 | | The SEC suit against Goldman Sachs and the senate hearings conducted on 27th April are highly contentious matters. Carl Levin, Chairman of the Senate investigation, stated that the accusations against Goldman “bring into question the whole function of Wall Street”. |
A Way Out of the QuagmireCharles PettitApril 2010 | | The current economic model has done little to address inequality or poverty in SA. Fortunately, someone, somewhere, seems to have realised this. |
Models of Risk and Return: What we know, and what we need to know AJ CilliersApril 2010 | | Do we “want more from our investments than a reasonable balance between risk and return”? |
3 reasons why YOU can outperform fund managersNicholas van der MeerApril 2010 | | When deciding which shares to add to your portfolio, who do you trust more – yourself or somebody else? |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerApril 2010
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherApril 2010 | | Khoza has always been known for his footbal credentials, what with being the chairperson of the 2010 Local Organising Committee and the big boss of Orlando Pirates. But in recent weeks, his business involvement and his political connections have also come to the fore. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerMarch 2010 | | Dear Readers
In this March edition, MarketViews has quite a varied line-up for your reading pleasure... |
How to research like a proNicholas van der MeerMarch 2010 | | As an investor, when you hear that ‘commodities are running’ and ‘property is booming’, do you rush to buy shares? Or do you worry that you’ll ‘miss out’ on the commodities run or the retail revolution? |
PIIGS don’t flyCharles WilsonMarch 2010 | | Concern around the rapid deterioration of the finances of the US, UK and Japan has been temporarily overtaken by sovereign crises in Dubai and now the weaker Eurozone members, the “Piigs” – Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherMarch 2010 | | Why is the media so pre-occupied with Julius Malema? Why do journalists, including myself, write reams and reams about everything he says? |
Precognition, intuition and the art of investing AJ CilliersMarch 2010 | | Should you trust your instincts, or should you act only on the evidence of your rational analysis? |
Choice: Is too much a bad thing? AJ CilliersFebruary 2010 | | The opportunity to choose enriches our lives, and if some choice is good, more must surely be better. But is this really the case? Recent research suggests just the opposite... |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerFebruary 2010 | | Dear Readers
We hope you’re enjoying the new look and functionality of the MarketViews website. This month we have added an opinion poll to the site and to the Newsletter – why not let us know what effect you think the 2010 FIFA World Cup will have on the JSE All Share? We will publish the results in next month's Newsletter.
In the February edition of MarketViews... |
Inflation expectations in 2010Charles WilsonFebruary 2010 | | Even though the CPI might well again pop out of the target band for the next month or so, there is limited upside risk to inflation in 2010. |
Planning to be a successful investorNicholas van der MeerFebruary 2010 | | Anyone who is serious about success needs a plan – failing to plan is planning to fail. The investor’s plan should be centred on helping him to decide which stocks to buy, when to buy them and when to sell. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherFebruary 2010 | | In PoliticalViews, Ryland Fisher asks whether things are worse now than under apartheid. |
Are you a gambler, trader or investor?Nicholas van der MeerJanuary 2010 | | Are you a gambler, trader or investor? Take the test to discover your investment approach. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerJanuary 2010 | | Dear Readers
Welcome to our first newsletter of 2010!
The MarketViews site has had a spring clean and a revamp in time for the new year, so be sure to have a look and send us your comments....
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Investing – For All the Days of Your Life AJ CilliersJanuary 2010 | | Link your investment strategy to your life-cycle. Though people at different stages may have portfolios of the same assets, the mix (or weighting) of each type of asset should be different... |
Political ViewsRyland FisherJanuary 2010 | | President Jacob Zuma was in a very positive mood when he made his New Year ’s Eve speech recently. And he had reason to be. |
The World in 2010Charles WilsonJanuary 2010 | | 2009 was certainly not light on drama. We had the worst financial crash in living memory, and some of the biggest banks in the world effectively came under state control. Unless Joost van der Westhuizen is voted Role Model of the Year, it is hard to see how 2010 can offer anything more surprising. |
CEOs – who pays when they play?Nicholas van der MeerDecember 2009 | | Since the global financial system imploded in 2008, governments and shareholders have had their knives out for CEOs and their exorbitant salaries. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerDecember 2009 | | Dear Readers
In our last issue for the year, we offer you four of our finest articles indeed. AJ Cilliers shares the seven habits of highly effective investors to help you establish or refine your investing techniques. Charles Wilson questions the conventional strategy of diversification, and provides evidence of successful investing both with and without this strategy. Nicholas van der Meer explores the topic of executive compensation... |
Political ViewsRyland FisherDecember 2009 | | The news that South Africa’s economy appears to be over the worst could not have come at a better time, as consumers, battered by a sluggish economy, have been struggling to make ends meet. |
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Investors AJ CilliersDecember 2009 | | How can we ensure that we swell the ranks of the investors and avoid the dreaded “speculator” category? We have identified seven key actions that effective investors should consider before parting with their cash.
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To diversify or not to diversify Charles WilsonDecember 2009 | | Diversification has so profoundly influenced investment analysis and portfolio management that every conventional investment portfolio is now sufficiently diversified to remove or reduce the specific risk associated with an individual stock. |
Activist Investors: Locusts or creators of value?Charles WilsonNovember 2009 | | When the CEO’s of the big three U.S. auto makers arrived in Washington in February, hats in hand and looking for a government bailout, they arrived in three separate corporate jets. The uproar over this extravagance at a time of crisis, for both the companies and the global financial system, led Barrack Obama to move more quickly and brutally than any hedge fund to remove Rick Wagoner as the boss of General Motors. |
Biases and Rules of Thumb – Mental Pitfalls that Trap the Best of Us AJ CilliersNovember 2009 | | One of the biases that severely affect our ability to make rational predictions and decisions is known as “anchoring”: the tendency of human beings to focus too heavily on a single piece of information when making forecasts. Research has shown that this tendency can have powerful and often damaging effects on our investment decisions. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerNovember 2009 | | Dear Readers
In this issue of Market Views, Charles Wilson explores the role and power of activist investors, both in short- and long-term scenarios, and illustrates these with intriguing case studies. From the field of investment psychology, AJ Cilliers looks at the influence of ‘anchoring’ and heuristics on investment decisions, and relates interesting research in this regard...
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Political ViewsRyland FisherNovember 2009 | | Thinking South Africans have been divided over Malema’s role in South African politics. Some feel he is an irritant who should not be taken seriously. Others feel that he represents the views of ordinary people, views that other leaders know about but find difficult to express. |
The 6 things you should teach your children (or spouse, friends, yourself) about wealthNicholas van der MeerNovember 2009 | | Learning to save is probably the most important thing you can teach your child about wealth. It is not only prudent to put something away for a ‘rainy day’, but it also encourages children to save for a large costly item instead of buying it on credit. |
How Big is Your Investment in the Ultimate Currency? AJ CilliersOctober 2009 | | The developed countries of the world are facing a disturbing paradox: as levels of prosperity rise, levels of misery are rising even faster. Tal Ben-Shahar, a young Israeli psychologist who teaches the most popular course at Harvard University, believes we err by chasing wealth. We should instead be focusing on what he calls the “ultimate currency”... |
A History of Money: From Quantitative Easing to Quantitative Weeping Nicholas van der MeerOctober 2009 | | A brief history of money, as narrated by Nicholas van der Meer. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerOctober 2009 | | Dear Readers
A short while ago, reader Arno Le Roux from Alberton wrote in to Market Views to request an article on inflation. Well Anton, our eager writers have contributed not one, but two articles for your pleasure! I’m sure at least some of your questions will be answered by Nicholas van der Meer, who takes a novel approach to the story of money, while Charles Wilson offers a five-minute brush-up on economic theory. Looking inward, AJ Cilliers tackles the tricky subject of rising prosperity levels and declining happiness; and looking outward, Ryland Fisher scrutinises the tightrope relationship between the ANC and Cosatu...
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Inflation 101 – A Guide for the Perplexed Charles WilsonOctober 2009 | | In the long run, inflation is essentially a monetary phenomenon. It occurs if the amount of money circulating in the economy grows faster than the gross domestic product... |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherOctober 2009 | | Less than six months into Jacob Zuma's presidency and already the cracks are showing in the ANC-led alliance, which include the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerAugust 2009 | | Dear Readers
Spring at last! But will it bring us a rejuvenation of the economy?
Thankfully there are some signs of recovery, but general opinion is that it will take some time and clever action on the part of governments and financial institutions in order to sustain any improvements. On this point, Charles Wilson examines... |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherAugust 2009 | | Ryland Fisher explores the link between South Africa and the rest of the sub-continent, and looks at the Zuma presidency’s plans to strengthen the region. |
Supersized HealthcareNicholas van der MeerAugust 2009 | | Let’s hope that South Africa’s newly appointed health minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has been paying close attention to the healthcare debate currently raging on in the United States. South Africa could do well to learn some cheap lessons on how to best provide healthcare equitably and efficiently. |
The Economics of Happiness AJ CilliersAugust 2009 | | Few would dispute the fact that recent decades have seen a huge increase in consumerism in most of the world’s developed countries. And why not? It’s good for the economy, and we’ve even come to believe that it’s good for us as individuals... |
The Shape of the RecoveryCharles WilsonAugust 2009 | | While economists and other commentators agree that a global recovery has started (i.e. output has stopped shrinking), they remain divided on what shape the recovery will take. The debate centres around three scenarios: “V”, “U” and “W”. |
Confidence: Is too much of it hazardous to your wealth? AJ CilliersJuly 2009 | | Psychologists have found that over-confidence is greatest for difficult tasks, for forecasts where it is less likely to make an accurate prediction. Because selecting shares that outperform the market is a difficult task, with low predictability and conflicting feedback, share selection is exactly the type of task which could be subject to high levels of over-confidence. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerJuly 2009 | | Dear Readers
This edition of Market Views offers you Charles Wilson’s commentary on the possible effect of massive government debt on the West’s economic recovery, and an insight into the role of confidence in investor strategies from AJ Cilliers. We welcome back analyst and writer Nicholas van der Meer, who shakes off initial scepticism about Muammar Gaddafi’s recent proposal to form the United States of Africa... |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherJuly 2009 | | Why does everyone in government seem to be obsessed with sorting out their wheels with the urgency they seem to be doing? And why is it that they need to fork out so much money on cars? |
The Next Crisis?Charles WilsonJuly 2009 | | While there is a widespread belief that a sustained recovery is in process for China and other emerging market creditor nations (further strengthening their relative position versus the “tired” West), a number of credible commentators believe that the West remains in deep trouble. |
The United States of AfricaNicholas van der MeerJuly 2009 | | Could Muammar Gaddafi’s recent controversial proposal to form the United States of Africa actually work?
Nicholas van der Meer explores the potential economic benefits and challenges for the continent, and what it means for the investor today.
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Introducing....Sharenet MobileSharenetJuly 2009 | | Live share prices or indices sent to your cell phone. Besides offering monthly subscriptions for JSE data, Sharenet also offers a ‘pay-as-you-use’ option, where you can have information sent to your cell phone via SMS, anywhere in South Africa.
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Anglo on the Back FootCharles WilsonJuly 2009 | | At the time of going to press (29 June) Anglo American was decidedly on the back foot as its board attempted to fight off an unsolicited and unwelcome takeover approach from Xstrata. Although the Nil-Premium merger proposal that was put to Anglo on the 17 June 2009 was summarily rejected a few days later it is clear that Xstrata and its CEO Mick Davis won’t just walk away because Anglo said "no thanks". |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerJune 2009 | | Dear Readers
While we wait for the economic tide to turn, it is essential to stay informed and on the pulse of developments in the business world if we are to make the most of opportunities. To this end, Market Views is thrilled to announce the arrival of news on Sharenet! With quality journalism from the internationally-renowned news agency Reuters, there’s no need to look elsewhere for up-to-date, relevant financial and economic information. Visit the Sharenet homepage to find a list of articles now!
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PoliticalViewsRyland FisherJune 2009 | | The FIFA Confederations Cup has come and gone and, contrary to the expectations of the many doomsayers in South Africa, our country received an unequivocal “yes” from football’s world governing body. An “eight out of ten” a year before the Soccer World Cup is as good as it gets. |
The Fourth Pillar of InvestingAJ CilliersJune 2009 | | As most of us are not likely to inherit well, and given the odds against a fortuitous Lotto win, any money that we invest will most likely come from our discretionary income – what is (hopefully) left over each month after we have paid the bills. This I would suggest is where the fourth and arguably most important pillar comes into play – investing in you. |
A New WorldCharles WilsonJune 2009 | | Despite the varying fortunes of the world’s economies, the panic and doomsday scenarios that dominated thinking only a few months ago are slowly receding. There is general acceptance that the recession will end, and thinking is turning towards the impact on long run growth prospects. |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerJune 2009 | | Dear Readers
This issue of MarketViews offers both quick comment and deeper analysis into current economic news:
Charles Wilson reports that global thinking has moved on from the depth of the recession to the long term impacts on economies around the world, and discusses what policies might be appropriate to foster growth in South Africa. AJ Cilliers explores the... |
Introducing…MarketTrackerNatalie MayerJune 2009 | | Used by trusted corporates such as Allan Gray, Sanlam and RMB Cape Town, MarketTracker is a software package that helps to keep track of developments on the stock exchange as well as group information on a particular share selection or personal share picks. |
Is the Curtain Coming Down on Shareholder Value Maximisation? AJ CilliersJune 2009 | | The seeds of the financial crash have been raked over in countless articles and are generally well known by now. What is not as well known is that many commentators are now singling out another factor: the concept of shareholder value maximisation. |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherJune 2009 | | China has identified potential markets in Africa and they are willing to invest to secure these markets in future. Their influence can be seen on just about every country on the continent. But what does this mean for South Africa in the long term? |
5 minutes with Issy BacherNatalie MayerMay 2009 | | Dr. Issy Bacher turned his attention to the stock markets back in 1982. After discovering “on balance volume” theory, he developed technical analysis software that could predict cyclical highs and lows. Not long after, Cycle Trends was born. Market Views interviews the man behind the programme.
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Editor's NoteNatalie MayerMay 2009 | | Dear Readers
Now that the election results are certain, it’s time to apply our minds more fully to the effect of a Zuma-led ANC government on business and investment. In our feature article this month, Charles Wilson provides an incisive look at what economic policies we could expect from the new government and how they will affect the business environment, while columnist Ryland Fisher ponders the link between voting and winning tenders... |
How inflation is affecting your buy-and-hold bond strategyMark MayerMay 2009 | | Considering the JSE All-share turned a corner in March, gaining approximately 18%, can we expect the start of an economic recovery in 2009? Is the optimism sustainable, and is it shared by investors who have adopted a buy-and-hold strategy in fixed-interest securities (bonds)? |
Stars to Steer By AJ CilliersMay 2009 | | Although there are investment analysts and other corporate finance whizz-kids who build and run complex cash flow valuation models, the other 99.999% of us may prefer to use slightly more user-friendly methods of share selection. Here we look at four of the best (relatively simple) financial ratios that can help pick undervalued non-financial shares. |
The Economics of a Zuma PresidencyCharles WilsonMay 2009 | | Now the waiting is over, but what kind of President can we expect? And of most relevance, what kind of policies will he back and what will their impact be on the environment for business and investment? |
Voting for BusinessRyland FisherMay 2009 | | Some business people have a way of feeding off politics and politicians. This stands to reason because government provides the biggest tenders and, if one secures one or more of these tenders, it could bring significant financial rewards... |
Editor's NoteNatalie MayerApril 2009 | | Dear Readers
Now that April has arrived, 2009 certainly seems to have gathered momentum. Work-wise, we hurtle towards mid-year deadlines; event-wise, we watch as the economic drama continues to unfold as more data is gathered, driving governments and businesses to attempt stronger rescue measures... |
Learn to earn on the stock exchangeNatalie MayerApril 2009 | | If you want to begin trading on the JSE and are looking for guidance, or you want to brush up on your stock exchange knowledge, Sharenet College offers a 27-module Stock Exchange Course that equips you with the relevant skills and information to help you navigate the equity markets and make wise investment decisions. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherApril 2009 | | By refusing entry to the Dalai Lama, the government has done what it tried to prevent: draw attention to the Dalai Lama instead of soccer. |
Searching for a bottomCharles WilsonApril 2009 | | When will we reach the bottom? Despite the continuing barrage of dire economic data, there are some investors who are starting to see significant value in markets that have been all but wiped out over the past year. |
Value Investing: Who, What and How Right Now AJ CilliersApril 2009 | | In case you think that value investing is for analytical wimps, be aware that it often requires nerves of steel and a good sense of timing. |
Can We Learn to Avoid Investment Scams? AJ CilliersMarch 2009 | | It is often the old and the uneducated who are the victims of con artists, but by contrast Bernard Madoff’s client list was made up of the rich and the famous, the bright and the informed. Why were all of these seemingly intelligent people fooled into investing in a fraudulent scheme? |
Dear ReadersNatalie MayerMarch 2009 | | The third month of the year has sneaked in under the radar, it seems. Already, weather conditions are signaling the beginning of autumn. Economic conditions remain gloomy, with equity markets ultra-sensitive to every comment made, report released or result announced. And SA is expecting more negativity this week as Statistics SA releases the results of an employment survey for the fourth quarter 2008. It may be a long winter, after all...
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Dividends in a RecessionCharles WilsonMarch 2009 | | Dividend yields from equities may be at historically high levels relative to government bonds, but investors should brace themselves for payouts to fall as economic turmoil takes its toll. |
Quickstream: Keeping an eagle eye on your portfolioNatalie MayerMarch 2009 | | If you like to keep your finger on the pulse of the stock market, Quickstream may be just the programme for you. With a customised view of your portfolio, you can put through a trade and watch movements in your share picks as they unfold. |
Recession Advice for PoliticiansRyland FisherMarch 2009 | | Everyone has advice for everyone else on how to ride out the recession. Would it not set a good example if all our parliamentarians and Cabinet Ministers decided to take a pay cut in solidarity with people who are struggling? |
Affirmative action and a long-term investment outlookJoshua MostertFebruary 2009 | | Is it time to say goodbye to affirmative action? Joshua Mostert discusses the potential pitfalls of this ‘corrective’ policy in the long-term, referring to the case of Malaysia to predict the effects of AA on equity growth.
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Debbie Does Pump-and-Dump AJ CilliersFebruary 2009 | | Think you’ve got a hot stock tip? AJ Cilliers explains why following an information cascade might not always be in your best interest. |
Editor's noteNatalie MayerFebruary 2009 | | Dear Readers
Now that the year is in full swing, it’s time to take a good look at ourselves and challenge old perceptions. Many old ways of understanding and doing things just won’t cut it in this current economic climate. Why not kick-start the challenge with this issue of Market Views?
Add your two-cents to our opinion piece on bailing out banks, before peering deeper into the ailing banking system and its possible remedies with Charles Wilson. Let AJ Cilliers advise you on when not to invest on a friend’s “hot tip”. Ponder with Ryland Fisher on the troubles of Trevor Manuel, as our intrepid Finance Minister prepares to present a Budget to suit diverse ambitions.
Lastly, aid us in bidding Joshua Mostert a final farewell by perusing his opinion piece on the long-term effects of affirmative action. Market Views extends our thanks to Joshua for his commitment and contribution to our newsletter, and wishes him a prosperous future.
Readers - we’d very much appreciate your feedback on our work. To leave a comment, please scroll down to the end of an article and fill in the short online form. Simple!
All the best for a fruitful February,
Natalie Wassung
Editor
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Pressure on Trevor Manuel to present ANC-oriented BudgetRyland FisherFebruary 2009 | | When Finance Minister Trevor Manuel presents what could potentially be his last Budget to Parliament later this month, he will once again be forced to do a serious juggling act.
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Should failing banks be bailed out?Natalie MayerFebruary 2009 | | This question has plagued analysts since the first bailout plan was announced in the US in October last year. But if banks worldwide are guilty of bad business practices, why are governments rushing to reward them with taxpayers’ money? |
The Future of BankingCharles WilsonFebruary 2009 | | Charles Wilson explores the massive losses in the banking sector, suggests how the crisis should best be approached, and describes the kind of bank we will be left with in the future. |
Editor’s NoteNatalie MayerJanuary 2009 | | Now that the festive season has given us a brief respite against the turbulence of 2008, it’s time to tune back into reality. Markets have opened fairly positively thus far into the New Year, but analysts see more bumps in the road ahead and warn us not to let our guard down too soon.
For me, January is a good time to evaluate my progress in terms of achieving my life’s purpose, and set new goals where I’ve gone off course or where I’ve adjusted my understanding of what I’m here to do. Financial goals are the trickiest to set – how much is enough before a means becomes an end?
For various reasons (not the least being a trip overseas for a friend’s wedding) I have drastically cut my spending budget for each month. I confess that laziness prevented me from researching cost-efficient contracts, and it has cost me a small fortune over recent years. It was so easy to justify not researching properly: “I’d rather be doing something else” or “I’m just not interested in that kind of thing.” Now that money’s tighter, my (financial) laziness has been shaved off like a bad haircut. Thanks to a solid advisor and a pinch of adversity, I’ve found that saving money gives almost as great a high as making it or spending it!
Here’s to being a better steward of financial resources in 2009,
Natalie Wassung
Editor |
Making sense of SENS Natalie MayerJanuary 2009 | | Are you taking full advantage of SENS? Having up-to-date company information is crucial when deciding to buy or sell shares. Learn to identify important headlines and make SENS news work for you! |
South Africa (and the world) in 2009 Charles WilsonJanuary 2009 | | With 2009 shaping up to be another momentous year for South Africa and the world, Charles Wilson forecasts trends and events that will play an important part in defining the next twelve months. |
Who will replace Trevor?Ryland FisherJanuary 2009 | | Who will replace Trevor Manuel as Finance Minister? Ryland Fisher discusses succession planning and suggests that the ANC look outside the party if they want to satisfy the markets. |
Zen and the Art of Portfolio Maintenance AJ CilliersJanuary 2009 | | In the same way as you review and re-balance your investment portfolio, AJ Cilliers suggest that you conduct an audit of your personal world view and progress towards your life’s work at the start of 2009. |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherJanuary 2009 | | In this edition of Political Views, Ryland Fisher discusses the need for a civil society organisation to monitor the opposition and other public servants. |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherDecember 2008 | | In this week’s edition of Political Views, Ryland Fisher suggests that the ANC leave COPE alone and get on with their own election campaign – before it’s too late. |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherDecember 2008 | | Ryland Fisher suggests that it’s time South Africa and the international community drop the stick and focus on the carrot, in a last attempt to free Zimbabwe from its tyrant-leader, Mugabe. |
Are you ready for the spreads? AJ CilliersDecember 2008 | | AJ Cilliers looks at the appeal of Contracts for Difference (CFDs). As a derivative, CFDs have to be treated with respect and caution, but if handled with care, they can introduce an exciting element into the lives of those who fancy a bit of short-term speculation. |
Behind the curve: A South African policy response to global crisis Charles WilsonDecember 2008 | | Charlie Wilson warns against SA’s smugness at avoiding the worst of the global credit crisis, and recommends quick and decisive action to prevent further contraction in the economy. |
First WordsNatalie MayerDecember 2008 | | As December rushes upon us, I think we can safely conclude that 2008 has been an interesting twelve months indeed. The consequences of our actions have finally caught up with us; more than one investor has had the legs kicked out from under him as the promises of greed and impatience have been shown for what they are - empty....
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It’s Apartheid, Stupid!Joshua MostertDecember 2008 | | Joshua Mostert catches South Africa at another major fork on the road to political and social change, and asks that the people look past apartheid as the source of all evil, and instead focus on constructing valuable solutions in the manner of Mandela. |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherNovember 2008 | | 16 Days of Activism challenges current statistics of violence against women and children. With this campaign on the horizon in November, Ryland Fisher questions the effectiveness of commemorative days.
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PoliticalViewsRyland FisherNovember 2008 | | In this week’s edition of Political Views, Ryland Fisher has a heart-to-heart with both sides of the ANC split, and discusses the possibility of election violence in SA. |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherNovember 2008 | | In a moving eulogy, Ryland Fisher bids farewell to one of South Africa’s best ambassadors and singers, Miriam Makeba, who died this week in Italy at the age of 76. |
ANATOMY OF A CRISISCharles WilsonNovember 2008 | | With the Rand and the All Share Index in freefall, mining output declining rapidly and home and vehicle repossessions at record levels, it is clear that the global financial crisis has now hit SA in a big way... |
Consumerism: dead, or ready for a new challenge?Nicholas van der MeerNovember 2008 | | The consumer, particularly in the United States, has throughout the last half-century taken advantage of all the available developments to leverage his lifestyle. The sub-prime crisis is just a result of this natural progression of the insatiable desire for nicer things and a more comfortable life... |
Consumerism: dead, or ready for a new challenge?Nicholas van der MeerNovember 2008 | | The consumer, particularly in the United States, has throughout the last half-century taken advantage of all the available developments to leverage his lifestyle. The sub-prime crisis is just a result of this natural progression of the insatiable desire for nicer things and a more comfortable life... |
FIRST WORDSNatalie MayerNovember 2008| I am blessed to be taking over as Editor of Market Views this month, in the midst of such interesting financial times. One need not look far for article topics! I look forward to examining global and local economic trends and channelling lively debate through our newsletter. |
First WordsNatalie MayerNovember 2008| I am blessed to be taking over as Editor of Market Views this month, in the midst of such interesting financial times. One need not look far for article topics! I look forward to examining global and local economic trends and channelling lively debate through our newsletter. |
Has Warren Got It Wrong At Last? AJ CilliersNovember 2008 | | I hate it when my investing heroes get it wrong. Admittedly this does not happen too often, but when it does the pain can be intense... |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherNovember 2008 | | While there are many people who live reasonably wealthy lives in South Africa, there are also many who feel that they have been left behind by a government who had promised them so much but delivered so little... |
Take your first step into the exciting world of trading with Sharenet's Stock Exchange course.November 2008 | | Its never been more important to make wise investment decisions than in the current market environment. Sharenet's Stock Exchange course covers all the basics and includes all the tools you need to become the best investor you can be... |
PoliticalViewsRyland FisherOctober 2008 | | Twenty years ago I interviewed a young MP called Wynand Malan, who had broken away from the National Party to stand as an independent
Twenty years later, I cannot help but see similarities in Malan’s situation at the time and the dilemma that Lekota and his supporters find themselves in today... |
Political Views Ryland FisherOctober 2008 | | The question I have been confronted with most over the past week or so, has been: does the new party proposed by Mosiuoa Lekota have a realistic chance of impacting on the ANC’s performance in next year’s election? |
Weekly Market WrapMarc SchroederOctober 2008| Well, if the US bail out proposal was supposed to be the coagulant that stemmed further economic blood loss, one has to question the drug trial results on this generic, as severe internal bleeding saw global markets trading in the red. |
Double standards? You decide…Joshua MostertOctober 2008| Our (mainly ANC) leaders in South Africa could be hurting this country with glaring double standards underlying some of their policies. Here are a just a view points to consider: |
Politics and Credit Crisis Take Center StageMarika YiannakisOctober 2008| September has been a very eventful month! World markets have taken a tumble, the rand has fallen to above the R9/$ level, our state president resigned and there are rumours of an ANC split on the cards. |
Curtain Falls on Wall StreetCharles WilsonOctober 2008 | | "We are probably experiencing the pain and disruption associated with the need to produce a fundamental change in the markets' perception of the role of central banks." Charles Wilson examines the situation on Wall Street and the global economy... |
It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldAJ CilliersOctober 2008 | | “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, World” is a 1963 American comedy directed by Stanley Kramer, about the crazy pursuit of $350,000 of stolen cash by a diverse group of strangers. |
Weekly Market WrapMarc SchroederOctober 2008| U.S Congress have admitted that the time for making a tough choice of between good and bad has long since come and gone. |
Weekly Market WrapMarc SchroederOctober 2008| If ever there was a week of socio political and economic interplay, last week made for a textbook scenario. |
Political Views Ryland FisherOctober 2008 | | If I were a political strategist advising the ANC, I would have recommended that they allow Thabo Mbeki to serve out his full term in office. The reason for this is not because I support Mbeki, but because the ANC had a wonderful opportunity to exploit the two centres of power, like they have ben doing for the past few months. |
Weekly Market WrapMarc SchroederSeptember 2008| In what has been described as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression by leading US economists, the world has its eyes set on what the US Fed will do next. |
Political Views Ryland FisherSeptember 2008 | | On the same day that President Thabo Mbeki announced his resignation, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert also announced his intention to step down because of a series of corruption charges. |
Weekly Market WrapMarc SchroederSeptember 2008| Sometimes a picture can speak a thousand words. Last weeks cartoon by Zapiro certainly brought out much heated debate around the country as Zuma’s case went to court. |
Rands and RollersSam BrightonSeptember 2008 | | I just spent R600 on a trip to the hairdresser. I think I scored a bargain. My boyfriend thinks I’m crazy. Men just don’t understand that re-growth and split ends are more likely to reduce us to tears than a dwindling bank balance. |
THE FRANCHISE & BUSINESS OPPORTUNTIES EXPO – WHERE THE SMART MONEY MAKES MONEYSeptember 2008| The Franchise & Business Opportunities Expo (FBOE) supports entrepreneurial spirit in South Africa, and as such will showcase a full spectrum of franchise and business opportunities when it opens from 12 – 14 September 2008 at Gallagher Estate in Midrand. |
Investors Miss Out On Golden OpportunityMarika YiannakisSeptember 2008| Investors were left fuming on Monday as the JSE and LSE went on the blink due to technical problems in London. |
South Africans Continue To Seek Greener PasturesMark MayerSeptember 2008 | | These days most people see themselves as global citizens. Social, political and economic integration on both a regional and global level have spurred on this sort of thinking and it should therefore come as no surprise that worldwide, skilled migration is a growing trend. |
Weekly Market WrapMarc SchroederSeptember 2008| Our coastlines were not the only thing battered by stormy weather this past week as the local and international markets were awash with red as weaker sentiment flooded the markets with fear over a global slowdown. |
Political Views Ryland FisherSeptember 2008 | | Whenever I have been to Zimbabwe, I have always been struck by the tenacity of the people, the entrepreneurial spirit, the willingness to work, the determination not to depend on government to provide. A spirit which is evident in many other parts of Africa. |
Chicken Little and the Art of InvestingAJ CilliersSeptember 2008 | | Early August marked the first anniversary of the credit crunch. The infant that arrived unheralded and unwelcome on the doorstep of the financial world is now, believe it or not, just over one year old. |
Weekly Market WrapMarc SchroederSeptember 2008| While the European central banks have concerned themselves with containing inflation at the expense of growth, the US have focused on keeping the global economy’s engine room running. |
Weekly Market WrapMarc SchroederAugust 2008| Falling precious metal prices and a strengthening dollar, had the average South African resource biased investor, coming into the week against the ropes. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherAugust 2008 | | The United Democratic Front (UDF) is being commemorated this week/month because on 20 August it would have been the 25th birthday of this broad anti-apartheid alliance. |
The Lure Of CreditMarika YiannakisAugust 2008| It always amazes me how even in this time of high inflation, the NCA and high interest rates, I'm still receiving letters from well known store chains offering me the chance to open accounts with them! |
Old Boys and Investment Clubs Mark MayerAugust 2008| The notion of an investment club is nothing new… the first club dates back to the 1800s, but with the explosion of the Internet and online investing, the concept has grown extensively in recent years. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherAugust 2008 | | Psssst!! There is a rumour that quiet diplomacy works but don’t tell anyone about it... |
Embracing volatilityMarc SchroederAugust 2008 | | So what is the best asset class to invest in? The answer to that question will differ significantly based on subjective criteria... |
Weapons for the Value HunterAJ CilliersAugust 2008 | | As world stock markets move into bear territory, value investors should be getting their weapons of choice out of mothballs and cleaning and oiling them in preparation for the hunting season. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherJuly 2008 | | I have watched with interest over the past few weeks or months the utterings of ANC Youth League President Julius Malema and Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and I have absolutely no idea what to make of it. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherJuly 2008 | | Many years ago I learnt a lesson in politics from someone who was then my political opponent. We had just defeated his faction at a political rally and talked about it afterwards. He said to me that this happens in politics: the one day you are up and the next day you are down. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherJuly 2008 | | I attended a rally of Ghana’s ruling party, the New Patriotic Party, in Kasoa, just outside the capital Accra, on Sunday. It was a big event with police estimating that more than 100 000 had attended... |
(click here for more selected comments) downwitheconomicorthodoxyJuly 2008| "Inflation targeting needs to be put out of its misery and replaced with policy that is relevant to South Africa." |
Investing in a Black Swan World (Part two)AJ CilliersJuly 2008| The world is an uncertain place, and even more uncertain than we probably imagine. Unpredictable events occur, and while most of them cause only minor ripples in our lives, on rare occasions an unpredictable occurrence will have a major impact. Such events are called “Black Swans” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
And if, by definition, Black Swans are unpredictable, how can one come up with an investment strategy that either avoids their effects or, even better, actually profits from them? |
Political ViewsRyland FisherJuly 2008 | | I read with shock, but not surprise, about how some people were planning to protest at Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday concert in London because of our former President’s failure to speak out on Zimbabwe.
My gosh, I thought, the man is 90, he’s lived his entire life in service of his people, including a lengthy spell in prison, and surely he deserves the right to have a bit of a break from the public eye...
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The Cream of the CropMark MayerJuly 2008| Last month I contributed for the first time to Marketviews with my virgin column and my talent has not gone unnoticed…my advance to editor has been swift, but not entirely unexpected; after all, cream always rises to the top!
If only that were true in my case...
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What does “Financially Secure” mean?Marc SchroederJuly 2008| I often here people saying that they don’t want to be rich, they just want to be financially secure. Retirement statistics suggest that only 6% of working South Africans will retire and be “financially secure”. But what exactly does being financially secure mean? |
Weekly Market WrapDuncan WilsonJune 2008| Seaside property on the south coast of Natal is not the only thing reeling from torrential rainfalls and flooding. Our rand is also battling to stay afloat since it plunged as Tito’s hammer fell softer than anticipated. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherJune 2008 | | I am writing this column on Youth Day which has now become part of Youth Month, which seems to be a way in which government gets people to focus on an issue not just for a day but for a whole month. |
Take your first step into the exciting world of trading with Sharenet's Stock Exchange course.SharenetJune 2008 | | Its never been more important to make wise investment decisions than in the current market environment. Sharenet's Stock Exchange course covers all the basics and includes all the tools you need to become the best investor you can be... |
When will it end?Marika YiannakisJune 2008 | | It seems like its all doom and gloom in our economy at the moment. Dwindling house sales, higher food and petrol prices and an ever rising interest rate all point to an associated slowdown in consumer spending. Here's hoping that the saying "what goes up must come down" comes into play sometime... |
Black Swans and the Folly of Experts (Part One)AJ CilliersJune 2008| Before the discovery of Australia people in the Old World were convinced that all swans were white, a conviction that was established and strengthened by empirical evidence. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherJune 2008 | | A Ghanaian journalist asked me last week why there was so much crime in South Africa. This question has intrigued me every since. |
SA consumer, the Ulysses of todayMark MayerJune 2008..jpg) | | I had the pleasure, only last week, of telling the compelling story of Ulysses and his voyage to the island of Sirenum Scopuli where legend has it, he overcame the deathly will of the Sirens. |
Women who Worry about MoneyAJ CilliersJune 2008 | | Are you one of those women who worry about money? It would be somewhat surprising if you weren’t, according to author Merryn Somerset Webb, who reports that 9 out of 10 women say that they feel financially insecure. |
Weekly Market WrapDuncan WilsonMay 2008| A record Oil price and increased inflationary pressures dominated the news on the local market this week. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherMay 2008 | | I am as concerned as many other Capetonians by the incessant fighting between Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool and Cape Town Mayor Helen Zille. |
Keep an eye on your credit card!Marika YiannakisMay 2008| As a recent victim of credit card fraud, its becoming apparant that criminals out there are getting smarter by the minute. Banks and technology simply can't keep up with the latest scams and by the time they do, it's often too late. |
Are We Living In the Shadow of the Big Bear?Norman WardMay 2008| If you look at an outline map of the tip of the Cape Peninsula, without place names and any indication of the scale involved, do you realize that you could very well be examining a map of South America? Interesting, you might say, but what has this got to do with the markets? |
The Couch Potato’s Guide to InvestingAJ CilliersMay 2008 | | Let’s face it: investing successfully on the stock market is hard work. If you want to beat the professionals at their own game, you must be prepared to work at it. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherApril 2008 | | My friend Sandile Memela, who works as a spokesman for the Department of Arts and Culture, raised an interesting debate the other day. He wrote on the thoughtleader blog about how “privileged” people did not attend rallies commemorating days such as Freedom Day. For “privileged” I read “white” even though Sandile did not specify this. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherApril 2008 | | Sunday is Freedom Day and it is an appropriate day on which to assess how far we have come as a country. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherApril 2008 | | There has been much speculation about why the Deputy Minister of Safety and Security, Susan Shabangu, made her “shoot to kill” speech. There has also been speculation about what she actually meant to say. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherApril 2008 | | At the time of writing, the results of the Zimbabwean elections were not yet known, but whatever the outcome there has been a refreshing sense of a vast number of people in South Africa’s neighbour wanting change. |
Weekly Market WrapDuncan WilsonApril 2008| Briefing the JSE’s performance over the past two weeks one can be forgiven for thinking that not much has happened, the differential being a meek 1.7%. However, during this period there has been substantial drama; banks have been broken, reserve banks have been bold, volatility has created vast opportunity and all along inflation has been gnawing its way upward. |
A Matter of InterestNorman WardMarch 2008| Before the 20th century there were no central banks. Kings and queens wrote bonds and promissory notes to raise finance, companies and individuals did likewise. |
Interest Rates Slashed By 5%Marika YiannakisMarch 2008| I don't think many of us would be fooled by this April Fool's headline! Wishful thinking indeed... |
Political ViewsRyland FisherMarch 2008 | | There are a few areas where you should not mess with South Africans. One of these is sport. One of my media colleagues used to say about rugby: it’s not a matter of life or death, it’s much more important. |
Value with a TwistAJ CilliersMarch 2008 | | Meet Jim Fisher - he once drove buses for a living and has an investment philosophy that amateur investors could easily and profitably adopt! |
Weekly Market WrapDuncan WilsonMarch 2008| Monday opened with the blue bird of happiness ominously absent, what with the Rand hitting its weakest level against the dollar in nearly five years, R8.12; oil topping a record high of $109.75 a barrel, goring any attempt to pacify inflation; bond yields up, possibly pricing in a future rate hike; and equity markets slumping on the back of a weak US Job Survey – I have no doubt he (or she) slept in! |
Political ViewsRyland FisherMarch 2008 | | Baleka Mbete, national chairperson of the ANC and Speaker of Parliament, commented that she was glad there were only comrades at the meeting. If she thought this meant that there would be no probing questions, then she was mistaken. |
4 Keys to being a good golf partnerGolf Digest MagazineMarch 2008 | | Although the link between golf and business extends back into the mists of time, the game is increasingly being viewed today as a must play by top executives. Many companies have seen the value of introducing golf to their staff as a way to build solid relationships or as a means to entertain and network with clients. |
Dancing with BearsAJ CilliersMarch 2008 | | There is an old Chinese curse that we refer to periodically that seems particularly apt right now: “May you live in interesting times.” Interesting the times certainly are, not least for equity investors, with possibly the biggest question concerning the direction of the markets over the next couple of years. |
First Steps Toward a Better Financial FutureAJ CilliersMarch 2008| Are you worried about your finances? You are not alone – almost everyone feels uneasy about money, at least some of the time. |
March MadnessMarika YiannakisMarch 2008| I thought my heading was apt for this month as petrol goes up by 61 cents, the rand weakens to almost R8/$ and global markets in general remain in a tizz over the state of the US economy. |
Market WrapDuncan WilsonMarch 2008| In volatile times like these, one has to remain cognisant of the unparalleled performance of our local market up to and including the end of last year. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherMarch 2008 | | “I wonder should I go or should I stay?” This line from the old Engelbert Humperdinck song from the 1970s has probably been at the heart of many conversations in South African households recently. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherFebruary 2008 | | There is a belief in the events industry that no matter how much you plan, you will inevitably overlook something and that, if something can go wrong, it will go wrong. |
Gloomy outlook for 2008Gardner RusikeFebruary 2008| It was quite a start to the year with the equity markets going down all over the world - driven by fears of a US recession and a global economic slowdown. |
It’s the End of the Markets (As we know them)AJ CilliersJanuary 2008 | | There is a saying that a week is a long time in politics. It would appear that a week is an even longer time in the world of global finance and economics... |
Market Update - The Year in ReviewGraeme HoltJanuary 2008| Graeme Holt from Vickers and Peters Lifestyle and Asset Planning gives a rundown of the year that was and what we can expect from 2008... |
Political ViewsRyland FisherJanuary 2008 | | In the media industry, we normally refer to December as the silly season because of the dearth of proper news over that period. The ANC conference at Polokwane, of course, made sure that last December was far from a silly season. |
Ready for 2008?Marika YiannakisJanuary 2008| Can you believe its February already and we're back in the swing of things so quickly in the new year?! The arrival of 2008 has been full of politics, power cuts and market woes - hopefully not a trend that will continue for the rest of the year! |
Winding DownMarika YiannakisNovember 2007| So it's December already and this year has just flown by! It's time to sit back and take stock of another year gone by. 2008 is almost upon us and it's been a very busy and interesting year indeed! |
Invest with the Best of the BritsAJ CilliersNovember 2007 | | Over the months we have dissected the investment philosophies of some of the best and the brightest professional investors that North America has to offer. But what about the British? London has emerged as a strong contender for the title of Financial Capital of the World, so surely there must be a British fund manager or two to rival their American cousins across the Atlantic? |
Political ViewsRyland FisherNovember 2007 | | In all likelihood, the African National Congress will have a new president within the next two weeks or so. Barring a minor miracle, that person will be Jacob Zuma.
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The Volatile RandGardner RusikeNovember 2007| The forex market is one market that always leaves analysts unsettled about the next level of the currency. Particularly for South Africa, the rand is regarded as a volatile currency. During the global markets turmoil in August the rand depreciated close to 7.50/US$ (16-08-2007). Since then the trend has shifted to an appreciating rand. |
Investment ObjectivesMarika YiannakisNovember 2007| Let's take a step backwards for a bit and talk about investment objectives and strategy. It's all good and well choosing shares because they "look good" but if you don't have a clear idea in your head about why you're actually investing you're going to come short! |
My Online Investment Adventure!Marika YiannakisNovember 2007 | | The tools: R20 000 to invest and an online trading account with Sharenet and Imara S.P. Reid
The mission: To invest/buy shares in a company listed on the JSE and document my progress and each step of this process
The goal: To hopefully make some kind of return within a year and show fellow beginner investors that investing isn't the deep dark unknown terrain we believe it to be! |
Three of the Best from BurtonAJ CilliersNovember 2007| Burton Malkiel is a Professor in Economics at Princeton University and author of the investment classic, “A Random Walk Down Wall Street.” Malkiel believes that successful investing can be boiled down to just three rules (as opposed to Peter Lynch, who shares 25 rules with us in this month’s newsletter!) So, if you like your investment advice in a more concise form, here are “three of the best” from Burton: |
Political ViewsRyland FisherNovember 2007 | | I have a confession to make. Until recently I agreed with our Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula’s views about whites and their whingeing about crime. |
Financial Planning In Your 40's and 50'sLee Rossini
November 2007 | | For many people in this age group, the opening line of Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities will ring true: "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times". At best these are the high-earning years, and you will be able to salt away plenty of income. At worst, this is also the time of life when the demands on your finances are greatest. |
Summer DiningMarika YiannakisOctober 2007 | | Summer's long hot nights and fabulous sunsets bring a whole new meaning to the words "dining out". Enjoy lazy dinners with great views and even greater food. Have a look at some of the top places to dine this Summer! |
An Eventful Month!Marika YiannakisOctober 2007| It's been a busy month - with global markets up one moment and down the next, Chinese involvement in our banking sector and rising interest rates. The last 2 months of the year are bound to be interesting ones! |
Market Ignores Interest Rate HikesGardner RusikeOctober 2007 | | Interest rates play a vital role in determining stock market movements. Financial economics theory suggests that there is a negative relationship between interest changes and stock market movements. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherOctober 2007 | | I have to apologise for writing once again about the ANC succession battle but until December, this will remain the biggest political story in South Africa.
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Eye on the TigerAJ CilliersOctober 2007 | | No, we’re not talking about the man dominating world golf. We’re shining our spotlight this month on Tiger Brands Limited, the JSE listed South African Food and Healthcare company. |
Financial Planning Through The AgesLee Rossini
October 2007 | | As we go through life our income varies and our needs change. As a result, our priorities change as we age, and our financial planning should take cognisance of this. In this article, the first of three, we will highlight the issues which people face in their 20's and 30's. |
Political ViewsRyland FisherOctober 2007 | | The past week or so has been one of much joy and pain in South Africa. Joy because of the success of our national rugby team at the World Cup and pain at some of the political goings-on inside the country...
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Political ViewsRyland FisherOctober 2007 | | If you think the political situation in our country is in a bit of a mess at the moment, I have bad news for you: it is probably going to get worse before it gets better. |
The Emotional Investor How Human Nature Gets in the Way of Wise Investment Decisions (And What You Can Do About It) AJ CilliersSeptember 2007| Financial economists have long believed that investor behavior is driven by economic rationality. According to these beliefs, "Economic Man" not only bases his investment decisions on expected future returns, but looks to maximize these returns at all times. |
Know Your Pinotage From Your Pinot Noir!Marika YiannakisSeptember 2007 | | Residing in a country where wine is found in abundance, we often take for granted the amazing varieties available to us. If, like me, you don't know the difference between a Sauvignon blanc and a Riesling, let's discover the meaning of these terms and how they came about... |
Building a Portfolio: Some Lessons from the MastersAJ CilliersSeptember 2007 | | When it comes to building a share portfolio, the legends of the investment world often sing from the same hymn sheet. “Buy what you know” says Peter Lynch, and “Buy what you understand” says Warren Buffet. Solid advice, and if you want an example of a South African company that has taken this advice to heart (and then some), you need look no further than the Remgro Group. |
Could the current account deficit affect the financial markets?Gardner RusikeSeptember 2007| South Africa has been running huge current accounts deficits since the first quarter of 2006. Past experience in other countries has shown that huge current accounts deficits can potentially cause financial markets turmoil. Especially, when the deficit is financed by short term portfolio investments. In such a scenario, what should investors do? |
Political Views Ryland FisherSeptember 2007 | | Now that the dust has settled on the floor-crossing shenanigans of the past few weeks, it is important to reflect who the real winners were and who the real losers were. |
Summer is Here!Marika YiannakisSeptember 2007| What is it about Summer that just makes everything more bearable? Is it waking up to sunlight and clear skies or getting home and having some daylight to actually do things instead of slumping in front of the tv...whatever the reason I'm sure we're all glad warmer weather is upon us! |
An Investor’s Guide to Exceptional CompaniesAJ CilliersSeptember 2007| Have you ever wondered what makes the exceptional companies different from the very good? AJ Cilliers takes a look at this very question and examines what criteria you should be looking at when choosing which shares to invest in... |
Mind the (Generation) Gap!AJ CilliersSeptember 2007| Louis Fourie and Graeme Codrington (ably assisted by award-winning journalist Sue Grant-Marshall), have produced a highly informative and thought-provoking book entitled “Mind Over Money.” AJ Cilliers takes a look at their view on successful financial management... |
Political ViewsRyland FisherSeptember 2007 | | The scenes looked like something out of the apartheid era. Heavily-protected policemen, many of them white, wielding batons and guns. Protestors, all of them black, burning tyres and barricades in the streets. People being dragged screaming and kicking into waiting police vehicles. Some people being shot, with even a few fatalities reported. |
Are You and Your Partner Financially Compatible?AJ CilliersAugust 2007| When love is in the air the last thing a couple is likely to think about is their financial compatibility. However, once the first bloom of romance has faded, the different ways in which each individual relates to financial matters can cause much of the conflict in a couple’s relationship. |
The Case For Asset AllocationStuart KantorAugust 2007 | | It has been said that every asset has its day. As local South African Investors we have seen the stunning performance of primarily three asset classes: property, equities and the underlying commodities of oil, gold platinum and silver. And so, as an investor who has enjoyed the fruits of the markets benevolence, you probably feel quite prepared to ride some turbulence or perhaps even a serious down turn for a few months. |
Turmoil in the Equities MarketGardner RusikeAugust 2007 | | Investors around the world are currently experiencing turmoil in the financial markets which emanates from the credit crunch in the US economy. Gardner Rusike takes a look at current market conditions and what it means to you... |
Why Do We Need To Go Green?Nathan BlowsAugust 2007 | | Recently there has been a sharper focus on the technologies and industries we support with our habits and lifestyles and the impact they have on not only us but also the environment at large. |
Delving Into Bull and Bear MarketsMarika YiannakisAugust 2007 | | We're all familiar with the terms "bear" and "bull" market, but have any of you ever wondered where these terms originated from and what they really mean today? Join me as I discover more about these market trends... |
Health, Wealth and Happiness!Marika YiannakisAugust 2007| This month has been a fairly volatile one, both in the stock market and as far as our Health Department is concerned! Is September going to be more peaceful as we see the markets recovering and we welcome the advent of Spring? Let's hope so! |
Political ViewsRyland FisherAugust 2007 | | We are a nation of experts. Think about it: whenever there is a major sports tournament, such as the rugby world cup, everybody knows what the coach should do to make a success and, of course, everybody would be a better coach than the incumbent. |
Beta:ExplainedJohn AnthonyAugust 2007| John Anthony explains the concept of beta and how investors can make use of it to choose shares... |
Advice for Investors in Times of UncertaintyAJ CilliersAugust 2007| There is an old Chinese curse which says: “May you live in interesting times.” Anyone with money invested in the stock market may feel that those times are upon us, and indeed that things are likely to become more interesting rather than less so in the months to come. |
Company Profile: Sallies LtdJohn AnthonyAugust 2007| John Anthony provides us with an analysis and discussion of Sallies Ltd - giving you an insight into the company and whether it's a good share to buy. Read here for more... |
Company Profile: Command Holdings LtdJohn AnthonyAugust 2007| John Anthony provides us with an analysis and discussion of Command Holdings Ltd - giving you an insight into the company and whether it's a good share to buy. Read here for more... |
Company Profile: Wesizwe Platinum LtdJohn AnthonyJuly 2007| John Anthony provides us with an analysis and discussion of Wesizwe Platinum Ltd - giving you an insight into the company and whether it's a good share to buy. Read here for more... |
Facebook Face OffNathan BlowsJuly 2007| It appears that everyone’s favourite social networking site, Facebook, has come under fire from another rival networking site. Read more to find out... |
Non-Violence: The History of a Dangerous IdeaNathan BlowsJuly 2007 | | The 20th and 21st centuries have been characterized by some of the bloodiest wars and an increase in violence the world over. All the violent conflicts that we’ve witnessed have been used in efforts to attain social or political change by those who cannot conceive of any sort of power divorced from violent means. |
Bring On Summer!Marika YiannakisJuly 2007| I don't know about you guys but I'm getting a bit tired of winter. I guess we should be grateful that we aren't getting such extreme weather as seen up north in the UK. Heavy rain has caused flooding - in a season that's supposed to be summer for them! |
Events In Your City!Marika YiannakisJuly 2007 | | Think nothing happens in winter in SA? Think again! Here's a list of some hip and happening events going on around the country in the next few weeks. There's no excuse for you to sit indoors and feel bored! |
Starting From Scratch - A Beginner's Guide To Investing In Unit TrustsMarika YiannakisJuly 2007 | | As a beginner investor and a relative newbie to the working world I realised it was time I took the advice of some of my colleagues and the environment I work in and start investing. For someone just starting out and with not a whole lot of cash to spare, I was advised to invest in unit trusts. But where to start and how to go about this? Join me as I discover more about this type of investment... |
Company Profile: Wesizwe Platinum LtdJohn AnthonyJuly 2007| John Anthony provides us with an analysis and discussion of Wesizwe Platinum Ltd - giving you an insight into the company and whether it's a good share to buy. Read here for more... |
Should You Join (or Form) An Investment Club?AJ CilliersJuly 2007| Most active fund managers fail to beat the market index year after year. AJ Cilliers looks at why this is the case and how you can benefit from going it alone or with a group of fellow investors... |
Stock Market Investing During Times of UncertaintyAJ CilliersJuly 2007| “Why do you suppose the brokers on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange always cheer at the sound of the closing bell – no matter what the market did that day? Because whenever you trade, they make money – whether you did or not. By speculating instead of investing, you lower your own odds of building wealth and raise someone else’s.” |
RACE by Ryland FisherAJ CilliersJune 2007| AJ Cilliers reviews Ryland Fisher's book "Race". Read more to see what he thinks about it... |
Hot Winter Getaways!Marika YiannakisJune 2007 | | Winter isn’t usually the most popular time to go away for a holiday. It’s miserable, cold and rainy and you usually store up your leave to take some time off in summer. I’m going to convince you that this time of the year is indeed the best time to take some well-earned time off! |
How To Get From Where You Are To Where You Want To Be – The 25 Principles Of Success by Jack Canfield Nathan BlowsJune 2007 | | You only have one life. Shouldn’t it be the best life you can possibly have? Read Nathan Blow's review about how to set and reach your goals in life... |
Yahoo CEO steps down after drop in stock priceNathan BlowsJune 2007 | | There’s been quite flurry in the internet world with Yahoo Chairperson Terry Semel stepped down as chief executive after joining the company in May 2001. The voluntary move came as a surprise and saw Yahoo co-founder Jerry Yang step up as the company CEO with Susan Decker as its president. |
A Busy Month!Marika YiannakisJune 2007| June has been a tumultous month - both in the market and in our society at large! We can only hope that next month brings about some positive change...
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Investing In The South African Growth StoryIan de LangeJune 2007 | | The South African economy is in a growth phase. By many accounts this growth phase is better than at any previous time in the country’s history. Ian de Lange discusses why choosing “value” shares over “growth” shares is a better decision in the long run… |
Shares – Ignore Them at Your Peril! AJ CilliersJune 2007| The three main pillars of any investment portfolio have long been regarded as shares, bonds and property. A large number of investors hold a large percentage of their investment portfolios in bonds (or other interest-paying instruments) and property, but steer clear of the stock market. Read more to see why this is not a good idea... |
Happiness – Lessons From A New Science Nathan BlowsJune 2007 | | Within the last fifty years we’ve experienced an increase and improvement in our income, health and social standing.
We are richer, healthier, have better homes, cars, food and creature comforts. So why are we no happier than we were 50 years ago?
Using a diverse range of disciplines including philosophy, economics, new psychology and experience as a policy advisor, Richard Layard attempts to answer some very difficult questions.
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Watch This Space For More...June 2007| MSN Business is currently under development as we are working hard to bring you even more articles that will give you a headstart in the business world. Keep an eye out for exciting additions in the weeks to come! |
Brait Increases Earnings by 10%June 2007| Private equity group Brait have increased their full-year earnings by 10%. Their headline earnings increased by 21% to R321.9 million. Their specialised funds division has been one of the major reasons behind this performance - increasing profit from operations by 377%. |
Metropolitan Buys Back Own SharesJune 2007| Metropolitan Holdings Ltd has bought back 17.3 million of their own shares between the period April 12 and May 31. Since May last year, the company has bought back 46 million shares for R663 million.
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The Intelligent Investor's Guide to the Stock MarketAJ CilliersMay 2007| One of the recurring themes in the financial planning literature, and one that you will regularly encounter in this newsletter, is the suggestion that you should invest a portion of your income in the stock market. |
Beat The Winter Blues!Marika YiannakisMay 2007 | | It’s that time of the year again when temperatures stop dipping, days get shorter and our winter wardrobes get hauled out. Our bodies start craving warm comfort food and we become less and less motivated to exercise. One can almost say we start entering a pre-hibernation mode – storing more body fat for the winter ahead. |
From the Editor's DeskMarika YiannakisMay 2007| This month sees the return of the five-day week. While most of us are wishing it were April all over again, May does have some advantages... |
Managing Risk - Your Investment Horizon and Portfolio DiversificationDuncan WilsonMay 2007 | | Good portfolio management involves the accurate selection of an appropriate mix of assets for a particular client while, at the same time, ensuring a balance between the level of risk and associated return. |
Tales of TechnologyNathan BlowsMay 2007 | | Interesting pieces of technology and gadgetry is not the sole preserve of a select group of countries and human enterprise can account for astounding technological advancements virtually anywhere on the globe. Let’s jump right in and see what the techno-spectrum has to offer us this month. |
The JSE - Where to from here?AJ CilliersMay 2007 | | A few professional market-watchers are getting nervous. True, they may belong to the glass-half-empty rather than glass-half-full brigade, but against the backdrop of an ever-rising JSE an unspoken question seems to be forming on analysts’ lips: How much longer can the bull keep running? |
The Emotional Investor: How Human Nature Gets in the Way of Wise Investment DecisionsAJ CilliersMay 2007| Financial economists have long believed that investor behavior is driven by economic rationality. According to these beliefs, "Economic Man" not only bases his investment decisions on expected future returns, but looks to maximize these returns at all times. Studies in behavioral finance, however, have shown that investors often act in a manner that would threaten Economic Man with heart failure. |
Mind the (Generation) Gap!AJ CilliersApril 2007| Louis Fourie and Graeme Codrington (ably assisted by award-winning journalist Sue Grant-Marshall), have produced a highly informative and thought-provoking book entitled “Mind Over Money.” Instead of focusing on the technical aspects of personal finance, the authors have highlighted an oft-overlooked fact - that the journey to financial independence begins with the individual. As they say at the outset – “Its not about the money – it’s about you!” |
Investing in the JSE – How Much Return for How Much Risk?AJ CilliersApril 2007| Even non-investors know that there is a relationship between risk and return, so that expressions like: “The greater the risk, the greater the return” have almost become part of everyday language. As investors, we know that we should be compensated for investing in risky assets, but what exactly is meant by risk? And how do we decide how much extra reward we require for taking on extra risk? |
Sham or Salvation? How Much Does Self-Help Really Help?AJ CilliersApril 2007| How much would you pay for a book that guarantees to make you a millionaire? Two hundred rand? Five hundred? A thousand, even? How about seven thousand rand? |
Dealing With Risk – What You Really Need to KnowAJ CilliersApril 2007| Like death and taxes, risk and return are two of the certainties of an investor’s life. Or are they? While we can’t escape the grim reaper or the taxman, are we really sure that risk and return are joined together at the hip? |
Bleeps and Squeaks from the Technosphere – Robots are usNathan BlowsApril 2007 | | There is no doubt that technology affects us all profoundly. The way we do business, communicate, entertain, educate and generally live is in some way influenced by technological factors. |
From the Editor's DeskMarika YiannakisApril 2007| April is one of those months that seem to go past in a blur…with the Easter weekend and four public holidays coming up; most of us will be breathing a sigh of relief after a long and (hopefully) productive March! |
I.O.U.: The Debt Threat and Why We Must Defuse It – Noreena Hertz (4Th Estate)Nathan BlowsApril 2007 | | Noreena Hertz, one of the world’s foremost experts on economic globalisation and a CIBAM Distinguished fellow at the University Of Cambridge, reveals just how the international debt system operates and how the countries who receive debt from others often suffer as a result. |
In Black & WhiteRyland FisherApril 2007 | | I spoke at an event recently to launch a new organisation to unite Capetonians across all racial, cultural and religious groups. |
Investment Opportunities Abroad?Duncan WilsonApril 2007 | | Every market tends to follow a topical theme or group of themes, whether these are made popular through day to day market hype or just make logical investment sense. |
Risky HabitsMarika YiannakisApril 2007 | | In line with this month's theme of "risk", I thought it would be a great idea to focus on various health risks and how they affect your day-to-day life. |
Successful Investing: Understanding the RisksMarika YiannakisApril 2007| Investing in shares is risky compared to putting all your savings in a bank account. However, if you’re saving up for a comfortable retirement or want to make your money work for you, shares are one of the few investments that, over a long period of time, earn returns that keep up with inflation. |
What does risk mean to you as an investor?Vincent HeysApril 2007 | | When talking about investments, we believe it is critical to define the 'risk' you face. Unless we define it properly, we will never be able to reduce that risk. |
Angsana Spa, Vineyard HotelNathan BlowsFebruary 2007 | | Sunday 10 December 2006. The urgent sounding of my message alert tone finally managed to stir me from my customary Sunday afternoon slumber. About 15 minutes later (I am not a light sleeper by any means) my brain eventually relayed the message to my arm to swing over, grab my mobile and read the message. |
Book Review: Are You Ready to Succeed - Srikumar RaoAJ CilliersFebruary 2007 | | The title of this book very nearly put me off. That takes some doing, because I am an absolute sucker for anything new in the area of personal development. But "Are you Ready to Succeed?" struck me as a particularly uninspiring title. |
Budgeting Made EasyMike BrowneFebruary 2007 | | Budgeting is a fairly easy exercise to do, but one that many people find incredibly difficult to stick to. The hardest part of a budget is adhering to it... |
First Steps Toward a Better Financial FutureAJ CilliersFebruary 2007 | | Are you worried about your finances? You are not alone - almost everyone feels uneasy about money, at least some of the time. And no wonder; the world in general is becoming a more complicated place and the world of finance even more so. |
From the Editor's DeskMarika YiannakisFebruary 2007| It's always amazing how time flies once you get past all of the frivolities of New Year! I hope you're all settled in the hustle and bustle of 2007. It's already been a busy two months and if you're still paying off the excesses of the festive season, it looks like you're in for a bit of respite as Mr. Mboweni has decided to leave interest rates as is for the moment. |
Healthy GoalsMarika YiannakisFebruary 2007 | | We've been talking about setting goals for a successful future in your financial life, but what about setting goals when it comes to your physical one? Now that the New Year and all the resolutions that come with wanting to be fitter and healthier this year have somehow gone out the window, it's time to take a step back and look at how exactly you can go about making this goal a realistic one. |
In black and whiteRyland FisherFebruary 2007 | | A few years ago I got into serious trouble for suggesting that Trevor Manuel should be our next President.
I don't want to get into trouble again (and not wanting to pre-empt the ANC's succession procedures and processes) but I must admit that Manuel's Budget presentation this week was impressive and he would not make a bad President. |
Market CommentaryDr Giorgio BlumFebruary 2007 | | The investment director for Bella Investment Services Ltd gives us a concise and interesting world market commentary as well as discussing his views on the global political outlook for the year ahead. |
Reader's Questions and AnswersAJ CilliersFebruary 2007| Our resident expert, AJ Cilliers, tackles this week's reader's question about hedging one's portfolio against the vagaries of the market... |
Technology ArticleNathan BlowsFebruary 2007| Will the iPhone revolutionise the mobile phone industry in the same way the iPod turned the music industry on its head? That very question was on the lips of a great many people when Steve Jobs announced the imminent arrival (the US market will see it in June with SA probably following later) of the Apple iPhone in January. |
Valentine's SchmalentinesMarika YiannakisFebruary 2007 | | So February is almost on it's way out and while we're all probably breathing a collective sigh of relief that pay-day is almost here, we're probably also cursing the fact that for a month of only 28 days, your credit card bill seems to be higher than it is in a normal month. The culprit? Valentine's Day of course!! |
40 Years of Change in the Unit Trust Industry - What it means for InvestorsCharles PettitJanuary 2007| The unit trust industry in South Africa has shown phenomenal growth over the last 40 years. Beginning with a single equity fund in June 1965 (The Sage Fund, with an asset value of R600, 000), the industry had grown to 617 funds by December of 2005 with a total asset value of R415 billion. By 2005 more than two million South Africans held investments in unit trusts. |
Five Reasons Why You Don’t Stick to Your New Year’s ResolutionsAJ CilliersJanuary 2007 | | If you are one of the people who drew up a list of New Year’s resolutions at the end of December, chances are that you have already failed to implement all or most of the changes. By now you probably don’t even feel too guilty about your failures, having come up with a list of reasons for not following through on your resolutions (no time, a demanding job, family commitments etc.). |
Fractional Ownership: What's all the hype about?Marika YiannakisJanuary 2007 | | Fractional ownership seems to be the buzz word in property these days. While it sounds similar to timeshare on the surface, there are some major differences and could be something well worth pursuing as an investment. Let's have a look at this latest trend in property ownership. |
From the Editor's DeskMarika YiannakisJanuary 2007| Another year has come and gone... Many of us look back at the end of a year and take stock of everything that has happened to us and look forward to how we are going to do things better in the new year. There’s nothing more satisfying than starting with a clean slate, no matter what you undertake to improve this year. |
In black and whiteRyland FisherJanuary 2007 | | The Tony Yengeni and Jacob Zuma/Schabir Shaik sagas have raised all kind of debates around what constitutes a bribe and the relationships politicians have with business people. |
New Year, New GearNathan BlowsJanuary 2007 | | Along with New Year’s resolutions and fresh plans for another 365 days the New Year has also sees a more new gadgets and tools to make life just a little simpler or more complex (depending on which side of the technology divide you’re on). |
Private Equity: Good, Bad or Indifferent?Ian de LangeJanuary 2007| The spate of potential private equity deals has spurned a lot of debate and articles in the financial press. The question on investor’s minds is what is private equity and how do these deals affect them? |
Romney Park Wellness CenterMarika YiannakisJanuary 2007 | | Many of us spend our days in traffic on the way to work and back, spend even longer hours at work and then rush around in the evenings trying to fit in gym, family time and household chores. It’s no wonder that we feel frazzled and stressed by the time the weekend approaches! |
Scratches and Squiggles - Book ReviewNathan BlowsJanuary 2007 | | I’m fond of those quant bookstores located in forgotten little side streets in some major cities or the tiny literary treasure troves found in some coastal towns. I could spend hours inhaling the musty smell of old books or paging through the work of a new author. |
Tackle the beach this summerMarika YiannakisJanuary 2007 | | Summer. The word itself conjures up images of sand, sea and sundowners at sidewalk cafes. Sound cliché? They might be, but the truth is that as soon as the sun comes out we all make plans to spend as much time as possible outdoors. If you’re looking for a bit more excitement this summer and aren’t satisfied with just lying on a beach towel all day then look no further than our comprehensive guide to various activities taking place at a beach near you! |
The Lazy Investors’ Guide to Passive InvestingAJ CilliersJanuary 2007 | | Passive investing was the brainchild of Benjamin Graham, who at various times was a highly successful investor (and the acknowledged “father” of Value Investing), a university professor, an author and the mentor of another fairly successful dabbler in financial markets, Warren Buffett. |
4 Keys to being a good golf partnerGolf Digest MagazineNovember 2006 | | Although the link between golf and business extends back into the mists of time, the game is increasingly being viewed today as a must play by top executives. |
An alternative to socks – a sad taleNathan BlowsNovember 2006| Socks. Today is my birthday and one of my well meaning aunts has bought me socks. I know that my dress sense is scruffy at times, but does it look like I can’t afford socks? |
Company Profile: AfrimatIan de LangeNovember 2006 | | What goes through the minds of a seller who immediately after disposing a portion of his assets, witnesses a 60% price hike? This was the case with some Afrimat shareholders who forfeited a not insignificant sum of R30million as they watched their selling price of R5 a share rocket up to R8 on day one. |
Do as I say, not as I do...Marika YiannakisNovember 2006 | | I was having coffee with an old varsity friend and talking about the good old days. Over a cuppachino (tall, skinny, decaf – the coffee that is, not a description of my physique) and a double choc chip muffin (hey, I skimped on the coffee!!), we were talking about the usual tribulations in life namely: men, food, work and food. |
Does Your Emotional Heart Rule Your Rational Mind?AJ CilliersNovember 2006 | | Financial economists have long believed that investor behavior is driven by economic rationality. According to these beliefs, “Economic Man” not only bases his investment decisions on expected future returns, but looks to maximize these returns at all times. |
How Tax Affects Your InvestmentIan de LangeNovember 2006You can’t escape the fact that taxes play a huge part in an investor’s total return generated on his/her investment.
While the basics are fairly straightforward in South Africa, complexities are introduced into the equation with offshore investments, various investment vehicles and corporate transactions. |
Interview With Queensgate Leisure Holdings CEO Andrew HubbardMarika YiannakisNovember 2006 | | Queensgate Leisure Holdings is an investment holding company specialising in the leisure and hospitality industry in Southern Africa. They own a chain of restaurants as part of their Top Restaurants Brand portfolio, as well as a few hotel chains. |
It’s never too late to start…Marika YiannakisNovember 2006 | | We all know that exercise is the best way to lose weight, increase muscle and promote an overall feeling of wellness. Let’s face it, who hasn’t walked out of the gym after a good workout or taken a brisk walk or run and felt like a new person afterwards? |
Q&A with AJ CilliersAJ CilliersNovember 2006 | | New investors typically ask a couple of key questions. Here they are, with our answers.
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Share Market Indices - An ExplanationCharles PettitNovember 2006| A share market index is intended to give investors an idea of the overall movement in prices of a group of shares. An index can literally include all of the shares traded on a stock exchange (e.g. such as the JSE Allshare Index), or can represent a selection of just some of the shares (e.g. the JSE Top40 index). |
Ten Tips for Success for Beginner Stock Market InvestorsAJ CilliersNovember 2006 | | So you’ve taken the plunge, and decided to invest on the stock market? Good for you! Before you dive headlong into the action, though, allow us to offer a few words of advice. |
Welcome to the new Marketviews Website!Marika YiannakisNovember 2006| You’re probably thinking that it’s a bit strange for us to bring out the new version of Marketviews at the end of a year. While that’s true, we believe it’s never too late for a change. After all, the festive season is upon us and this would be a good time to give you some much needed tips on how to manage your money. |
What is black? And how does this impact on the economy?Ryland FisherNovember 2006 | | There is of course a legal definition of black, which includes Africans, coloureds and Indians. However, in the real world there are different definitions of black, mainly black equals African. |
An Investor’s Guide to Exceptional CompaniesAJ CilliersOctober 2006
Buy What You Know – The Road to Riches?AJ CilliersOctober 2006
From the Editor's DeskCharles PettitOctober 2006
Get Organized, Energized and in Control!AJ CilliersOctober 2006
October 2006 Tax Update – When is a contractor independent?October 2006
Relative Valuation 2Charles PettitOctober 2006
Alternative Investments?Charles PettitSeptember 2006
From the Editor's DeskCharles PettitSeptember 2006
Got a Problem With Your Thinking? Try a Different Hat!AJ CilliersSeptember 2006
September 2006 Tax Update - Small Business Tax AmnestySeptember 2006
Should You Join (Or Form) an Investment Club?AJ CilliersSeptember 2006
Successful Stock Market Investing – Is it simply Childs Play?AJ CilliersSeptember 2006
Advice for Investors in Times of UncertaintyAJ CilliersAugust 2006
August 2006 Tax Update - Unbundling TransactionsAugust 2006
Buying a House? Some Negotiating TipsAJ CilliersAugust 2006
From the Editor's DeskCharles PettitAugust 2006
Residual Income – An Alternative Measure of ValueCharles PettitAugust 2006
The Three Reasons Why You Don’t Achieve Your GoalsAJ CilliersAugust 2006
Are You and Your Partner Financially Compatible?AJ CilliersJuly 2006
Are You As Motivated As You think You Are?AJ CilliersJuly 2006
From the Editors DeskCharles PettitJuly 2006
July 2006 Tax Update - Taxation of dividend incomeJuly 2006
Mergers & Acquisitions: Creating value for shareholders?Charles PettitJuly 2006
Stock Market Investing During Times of UncertaintyAJ CilliersJuly 2006
25 Golden Rules for InvestorsAJ CilliersJune 2006
From the Editor's DeskCharles PettitJune 2006
June 2006 Tax Update - Shares held as trading stockJonathan AltmanJune 2006
Rags or Riches – Does thinking make it so?AJ CilliersJune 2006
Relative Valuation – Is the PE the only way to go?June 2006
Three of the Best from BurtonAJ CilliersJune 2006
Bubbles, Troubles and the Madness of CrowdsAJ CilliersMay 2006
Buying on H.P.? Beware this “Hidden” Charge!AJ CilliersMay 2006
From the Editors DeskCharles PettitMay 2006
Managed Trust OperationPatrice La Hausse de LalouvičreMay 2006
Market CommentaryMay 2006
May 2006 Tax Update - Income tax or CGT?Jonathan AltmanMay 2006
Should You Value Value, or Go For Growth?AJ CilliersMay 2006
April 2006 Tax UpdateJonathan AltmanApril 2006
Barbarians at the Gate - Book ReviewCharles PettitApril 2006
From the Editors DeskCharles PettitApril 2006
Insurance Tip - Safe DrivingApril 2006
Mauritius Protected Cell Company (PCC)Patrice La Hausse de LalouvičreApril 2006
TAXATION: Do you qualify for the Small Business Amnesty?Walter GeachApril 2006
The JSE: Peaking at Last, or Still a Way to Grow?AJ CilliersApril 2006
Are You a Materialist?AJ CilliersMarch 2006
BUDGET 2006: SOME PERTINENT CHANGESWalter GeachMarch 2006
Free Cash Flows – The Real Driver of Share PricesAJ CilliersMarch 2006
FREE INSURANCE TIP - 10 POINTS TO REMEMBERMarch 2006
From the Editors DeskCharles PettitMarch 2006
March 2006 Tax Update - Secondary Tax on CompaniesJonathan AltmanMarch 2006
Mauritius Global Business CompaniesPatrice La Hausse de LalouvičreMarch 2006
Do You Have a Millionaire Mindset?AJ CilliersFebruary 2006
February 2006 Tax Update - Foreign tax credits on capital gainsFebruary 2006
From the Editors Desk - The JSE in 2006Charles PettitFebruary 2006
INSURANCE TIP - NON-STANDARD MOTOR ACCESSORIESFebruary 2006
Mauritius TrustsPatrice La Hausse de LalouvičreFebruary 2006
Trusts and Close Corporations: Some important changesWalter GeachFebruary 2006
Value Based Management and the JSEAJ CilliersFebruary 2006
A New Year and a New You?AJ CilliersJanuary 2006
Financial Markets Weather ForecastDr Giorgio BlumJanuary 2006
From the Editors DeskCharles PettitJanuary 2006
January 2006 Insurance TipJanuary 2006
UK ObservationsGraham BuschJanuary 2006
Value Based Management – What’s in it For Shareholders?AJ CilliersJanuary 2006
December 2005 Insurance Tip - Are Your Household Goods Adequately Insured?December 2005
December 2005 Tax Update - Beware Interest Free LoansJonathan AltmanDecember 2005
From the Editors DeskCharles PettitDecember 2005
Investing in the JSE – How Much Return for How Much Risk?AJ CilliersDecember 2005
Risk and Return on the JSE – A Cynic’s ViewAJ CilliersDecember 2005
Tax Planning: Stick To The Basics!Walter GeachDecember 2005
The Richest Man in BabylonAJ CilliersDecember 2005
UK Observations Non-Domicile - A Treasured Status For People Living In The UK (Part 1)Graham BuschDecember 2005
Buying Preference Shares? Beware of Floods!Andrew CanterNovember 2005
FARMING, RENTING, OR HOBBYING: IS YOUR TAX LOSS RINGFENCED?Walter GeachNovember 2005
From the Editors DeskCharles PettitNovember 2005
Index Funds - "The Only Game in Town"?AJ CilliersNovember 2005
Insurance Tip: All RisksNovember 2005
Mind the (Generation) Gap!AJ CilliersNovember 2005
November 2005 Tax UpdateJonathan AltmanNovember 2005
SO YOU THINK THAT YOUR TRUST CONCLUDED A VALID AGREEMENT? THINK AGAIN!Walter GeachNovember 2005
"Invest Like a Pro"
- We Review Anton Swanepoel's Golfing Guide to Investment SuccessAJ CilliersOctober 2005
Financial Markets Weather forecastDr Giorgio BlumOctober 2005
From the Editors DeskCharles PettitOctober 2005
How To Invest in Efficient Markets
(And Have a Little Fun At The Same Time!)AJ CilliersOctober 2005
Mind Over Money
- How Your Attitude Determines Your (Financial) Altitude.AJ CilliersOctober 2005
October 2005 Tax UpdateJonathan AltmanOctober 2005
You May Be Disappointed To Discover That Your Trust Is Not A TrustOctober 2005
Challenges to the Efficient Market HypothesisAJ CilliersSeptember 2005
From the Editor's DeskCharles PettitSeptember 2005
Investment Fraud - Don't Become a Victim!AJ CilliersSeptember 2005
Own shares and other investments in your own name?
Do not be a company or close corporation junkie!Walter GeachSeptember 2005
September 2005 Tax Update
Good news for expatriates and non-residentsJonathan AltmanSeptember 2005
The 2005 Oil Shock!Dr Giorgio BlumSeptember 2005
The Use Of Companies And Trusts:
You might have a 'personal service' company or trust...
and not even know it!Walter GeachSeptember 2005
A Random Walk past the JSEAJ CilliersAugust 2005
Beware the Dangers of Data MiningAJ CilliersAugust 2005
BOOK REVIEW
A Mathematician Plays the Stock MarketWalter GeachAugust 2005
Foreign Companies and Foreign Dividends:
How is a South African citizen taxed?Walter GeachAugust 2005
From the Editor's DeskWalter GeachAugust 2005
It ALWAYS pays to consider the price paidIan de LangeAugust 2005
The Curious Link between the Pursuit of Happiness and Poor Financial JudgmentLee Rossini
August 2005
The Intelligent Investor’s Guide to Passive InvestingAJ CilliersAugust 2005
Could You Be "The Millionaire Next Door" ?AJ CilliersJuly 2005
Financial Planning in Your 40's and 50'sLee Rossini
July 2005
From the Editor's DeskWalter GeachJuly 2005
Investing Or Trading In Shares? Be Careful!
Walter GeachJuly 2005
PARTNERSHIP:
Sekunjalo Investments and the Sharenet GroupJuly 2005
Private Equity: An OverviewCharles PettitJuly 2005
Sharenet Financial Solutions (Pty) LtdJuly 2005
Sharenet Wine ClubJuly 2005
The Intelligent Investor's Guide to the Stock MarketAJ CilliersJuly 2005
Trusts: The Amendment Of Trust DeedsWalter GeachJuly 2005
Financial Planning through the AgesLee Rossini
June 2005
From the Editor's DeskWalter GeachJune 2005
Hit or Myth?AJ CilliersJune 2005
Investing or Trading in Shares? The Tax Differences are Significant!
Walter GeachJune 2005
Offshore Transactions and Investments:
Some Taxing Issues
Walter GeachJune 2005
Risky Investment Behaviour - Is it a Guy Thing?
Lee Rossini
June 2005
South Africa 2014: The Story of Our Future
Guy LundyJune 2005
The 8th HabitAJ CilliersJune 2005
The Emotional Investor
How Human Nature Gets in the Way of Wise Investment Decisions
(And What You Can Do About It)
AJ CilliersJune 2005
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