‘Barbie mania’ puts investors in the pink
From the pink-clad world of Barbie to the dazzling lights of music tours, the impact of pop culture phenomena on the global financial markets is shaping investors’ decisions.
inflation
Impending climate phenomena could derail next year’s prospect of lower interest rates
As higher winter rainfall gives way to a hotter and drier summer, a leading asset manager predicts that El Niño could lead to higher food prices and interest rates, and the potential for social unrest in emerging markets.
Are you really getting an extra R50 000 at retirement?
The impact of the 10% adjustment to the lump-sum retirement benefits table may be less than you think.
Santam repricing its book to take account of inflation and other cost pressures
A “concerted set of underwriting actions” were under way to reprice Santam’s book, to take account of the inflationary and other pressures that were pushing up the cost of claims, Sanlam’s chief executive, […]
Market volatility sees CIS assets under management fall below R3 trillion
Market volatility has resulted in assets under management (AUM) by the collective investment schemes (CIS) industry dropping below the R3 trillion threshold reached in the fourth quarter of last year. Assets under management […]
South Africans were R1.23 trillion poorer in the second quarter
An increase of R39 billion in the value of household debt and a decrease of R1.19 trillion in the value of household assets saw South Africans’ wealth (expressed in current prices) decrease by […]
Limit 2023 contribution increases to 5.7%, says Council for Medical Schemes
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) has recommended that contribution increases for 2023 should be limited to 5.7%, in line with the South African Reserve Bank’s projected average inflation rate for next year. […]
What a new world order might mean for the global economy
The war in Ukraine is having a significant effect on inflation and activity in the world economy as commodity prices have soared and supply chains have been disrupted. Inflation in the G7 was […]
Contributing 15% of earnings to retirement savings will not be enough
According to the Oxford dictionary, a “rule of thumb” is “a broadly accurate guide or principle, based on practice rather than theory”. For many years, the retirement rule of thumb advised citizens diligently […]
High inflation ‘is raising the risk’ of under-pricing and underinsurance
Insured values will become a major discussion point with insureds this year, as high inflation raises the risk of underinsurance for companies and mis-declared values for insurers, according to Allianz Global Corporate & […]
Some market sectors may absorb the impact of inflation better than others
Inflation worldwide is on the rise, driven by fuel price hikes, the energy crisis and rising food prices. Locally, inflation is at its highest level in five years. The sharp rise in inflation […]
Prepare for two massive repo rate hikes, says commercial bank
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) will hike the repo rate by 75 basis points in both July and September – well above the consensus expectation, according to international banking group BNP Paribas. […]
Moody’s forecasts 8% inflation in 2022
Headline inflation in South Africa will rise to about 8% this year, breaching the upper end of the South African Reserve Bank’s target band of 3% to 6%, according to a research report […]
Shrinkflation, skimpflation and your investment returns
Inflation has been making a comeback. Not so long ago, it had seemed that we had vanquished (at least in the developed world) this sneaky foe of long-term wealth creators everywhere, thanks to […]
Upside risks may scupper SARB’s ‘slow and steady’ approach to rate increases
As expected, the SA Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Thursday raised the repo rate by 25 basis points to 4%. However, what surprised some market analysts is that the SARB’s quarterly […]
How many rate hikes will we see this year?
By how much will inflation increase this year and, more importantly, how many rate hikes will we see as a result? Thursday’s meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) may shed more light […]
These six themes ‘will be top of mind’ for active managers in 2022
The response to climate change, inflation, post-pandemic growth and China’s market interventions are among investment managers’ top concerns this year, according to Sanlam Investments. Sanlam Investments’ portfolio managers believe active managers will focus […]
