As I predicted last year, 2016 was a year of consolidation. Our market went nowhere. But shares are much cheaper today than they were a year ago.
And that makes me optimistic about 2017.
But there's one industry in particular that I've got my eyes on.
It was arguably the worst sector for 2016.
Agriculture.
One of the worst droughts in decades hit South Africa. Farmers lost crop... ››› more
There's a scary word floating around the investment world right now.
It's hanging over your portfolio like a black cloud. It's threatening your income, your investments and your financial future.
The frightening thing is many investors don't even know that their money is in danger. They're ambling along blind to the fact that they're about to lose a large portion of their investments.
... ››› more
So far this year, you've heard the word recession a lot. It's a real threat to the economy right now.
The third quarter of 2015 saw 0.7% gross domestic product (GDP) growth - the fourth quarter saw 0.6% GDP growth. Results of the first quarter of 2016 shows the economy contracted 1.2%.
Economists expected the economy to contract only 0.1%, which leads me to believe that nobody really knows... ››› more
The drought that's battering Southern Africa right now is going to wreak havoc on your pockets in the near future. South African corn farmers are expected to produce the lowest maize produce in 8 years.
The last time production numbers were this low was in 2008.
The numbers are concerning and it seems that South Africa will have to drastically increase the amount of maize it imports to 3.8... ››› more
If you're celebrating that we're almost through winter and had no load-shedding, I have some bad news for you.
You and I might have had an “uninterrupted” power supply this winter but it's going to cost our pockets, big time!
According to an article in the City Press newspaper this weekend, “The economy is set for a shock from the combined blows of Eskom's move to hike the cost of tw... ››› more
Last week, the Zimbabwean Government implemented a law causing major unrest in the border towns of Zimbabwe and South Africa.
The introduction of Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 (SI64) restricts the import of certain goods from South Africa into Zimbabwe. This includes items like plastic pipes, doors, bottled water, window frames, baked beans, potato chips... Even peanut butter got the cut.
... ››› more
When I heard the results of the Brexit vote last Friday, I was watching TV, clutching a cup of coffee and snuggling under a blanket with my sons in the diamond city, Kimberley.
As soon as the news bulletin ended, my phone started to buzz uncontrollably.
First, a message from my brother asking, “Did you see the Brexit result?” I ignored it. Then, a message from a colleague, “How could... ››› more
This week, the South African Rand is at its highest level in seven weeks. It's clawing back against the dollar trading at around R14.74.
I don't know about you but I certainly didn't expect the rand to gain so much ground. I must admit that I had severely negative outlook for the rand this month.
With the political unrest in Tshwane and a new wave of violent strikes in the country, I expect... ››› more
If you thought politics and economics in South Africa is exciting, then you've been missing out on what happening in Europe right now.
The United Kingdom is about to make a drastic decision that could have an impact on the global economic system. On Thursday, the UK will have a referendum on the 'Brexit' - to decide if the UK stays or leaves the European Union.
Last week, a poll for the E... ››› more
Regular contributor to FSP Invest's South African Investor publication, Dawie Roodt, recently reported that he believes South Africa is already in recession.
As we know, Roodt doesn't make any statement lightly. He is usually armed with facts and figures before he makes a statement like this.
This begs the question, did South Africa slip into a recession and nobody noticed?
Let's take ... ››› more
Standard & Poor's and Fitch ratings agencies is expected to give their verdict on the country's rating by the end of this week.
The financial analysts at FSPInvest believe that a downgrade to junk status is inevitable. Even if this doesn't happen this month, it will happen before the end of 2016.
Here's what will happen to the economy and your investment portfolio if the downgrade does happ... ››› more
Friday morning proved to be a good day on the JSE as it recovered from Thursday's sell-off which was triggered by news that US interest rates will increase sooner than expected. Global markets like the US and Asia are still struggling but the European markets joined the JSE in its recovery.
Considering that May is usually the worst month for the JSE, things are not looking as bad as investors... ››› more
The past few weeks have been harrowing for the rand.
It's been taking a severe beating from the dollar in the past two weeks.
Worst of all, rumours about the arrest of Pravin Gordhan has certainly not been helping matters at all. But, finally, it seems to have found a moment of stability. How long this will last, I don't know.
But let's take a closer look...
The rand is battered by t... ››› more
Yesterday I warned investors that the rand will lose strength against the dollar because of the rumours that the Hawks want to arrest Pravin Gordhan for his involvement in the establishment of the SARS rogue unit while he was the tax agency's commissioner. As I expected, that's exactly what happened. But now, where to from here? Is it time for South African investors to be really worried? And wha... ››› more
This morning, the rand is trading at R15.51 to the dollar. In 11 days it's lost 54 cents against the greenback. This is only the beginning of the rand's fall.
If you think this is bad, keep an eye on the rand this week. I expect to see a significant weakening against the dollar thanks to new rumours in the media related to the arrest of our finance minister, Pravin Gordhan. “Pravin Gordhan fa... ››› more
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