Like the tourism and hospitality sectors, construction has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
As a result, the construction sector saw a 30% collapse in the second quarter of 2020.
But it looks like the construction sector has started to see a recovery at last. In 2020, the Afrimat Construction Index dropped to below 70 - from a 2019 average of just above 120. Indicating a huge drop i... ››› more
Here's something you might agree on…
Investing is hard!
If it were easy, I guess, everybody would be rich.
But as investors, we often make it harder for ourselves to make money and grow our wealth - especially when we continuously fall into - often easily avoidable - investment traps.
Today I'm going to share two common ones, and how you can avoid them...
*************
... ››› more
At 11:30 on 4 December 2018 Stats SA announced that South Africa is out of its recession.
GDP Growth for the third quarter came in at 2.2%, after a 2.6% decline in the first quarter and a 0.4% decline in the second quarter of 2018.
Editor's Note: This is your FINAL chance to be a part of the biggest "bonus" we'... ››› more
South Africa has just officially entered a recession.
GDP figures for the first quarter of 2017 show a GDP contraction of 0.7% quarter on quarter, and it follows the fourth quarter of 2016 which saw a 0.3% contraction…
This is the first time since 2008/2009 that South Africa's entered a recession, which is defined as two quarters of negative GDP growth.
So if our economy isn't growin... ››› more
The northern half of South Africa had good rains in the past rainy season, and the rains predicted for this summer are also decent.
The Western and Northern Cape however still haven't had the rain (and snow) needed to top up dam levels and put them in the clear.
So how is this affecting businesses?
Construction in Cape Town is struggling
The construction industry in the We... ››› more
It's been a tough few years for the construction industry but now that Donald Trump is president of the United States things are starting to look up.
The Trump presidency is turning out to be very bullish for the equity markets and especially the construction sector which will be helped by the new fiscal policy stance.
Today's FTSE 100 stock has been touted as a potential beneficiary from an... ››› more
When Afrimat listed in 2006, it focused only on building materials. Had it remained this way, it would have been in big trouble.
However, early diversification let it supply contractors working on large infrastructure projects. And during the financial crisis and the subsequent recession, it chose to diversify further, with less reliance on government infrastructure spending.
The company did... ››› more
When you think of Africa, the first thing that may come to your mind is disease, war and riddled with poverty.
However, there's a more attractive side to Africa that you need to know about…
• Africa's economic growth is set to grow close to 5%.
• African consumers will have over $1 trillion spending power by 2020.
• African countries will spend over $90 billion a year upgrading IT... ››› more
Surprisingly enough, despite all the ecconomic and political unrest, deepest Africa could be the SAFEST and MOST PROFITABLE place in the world for your money. Investment expert Francois Joubert explains...
Since 1970 there have been around 147 revolutions around the world. 42 of these revolutions have taken place in Africa. Since 2010 alone there have been civil wars and coup d'état'... ››› more
Earlier today, Stats SA released its quarterly labour force survey covering the third quarter of the year.
The report showed a poor gain in employment numbers from July to September.
Let's take a closer look at what the report revealed…
Unemployment is now at 25.4%
The rate of unemployment in South Africa now stands “at 25.4% of the labour force,” reports Fin24. That’s a mar... ››› more
Yesterday, Stats SA released its Quarterly Employment Statistics report for June. The report showed a rise in employment in the formal sector.
But the report also revealed job losses in certain key sectors.
Let's take a closer look at what the report revealed…
Employment grew 1.8% over the second quarter
From April to June, the Quarterly Employment Statistics report showed “an o... ››› more
Over the past three years IT stocks have run up 128%, retail shares have run up 87% and the JSEs All Share Index has done a little more than 41%.
So where should bottom-fishing contrarians look for "left for dead" assets?
One sector to consider is steelmaking… The world’s largest “Boom and Bust” sector might be set for a recovery in 2014
The steelmaking industry is one of the mar... ››› more
Retail shares have crashed this year, the unsecured lending bubble has popped and mining shares are going nowhere slowly as workers keep striking…
With the market looking like this, what should you invest in?
Well, what about the one sector making a comeback?
Back in 2009 one of the largest construction companies, Murray and Robberts, was worth R50 billion. Today the WHOLE construction ... ››› more
After workers downed tool three weeks ago, a new wage deal brings the strike to an end. Earlier today, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said that the strike was over. Let's take a closer look at the wage deal between the union and the construction industry…
Earlier today, the NUM said that “it had agreed to a deal for wage hikes of up to 12%,” reports Fin24. This deal with the const... ››› more
Earlier today, the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) said that its construction workers were preparing to down tools from Monday. This follows auto manufacturers who've been striking since Monday. And threats of strikes from the textiles sector and the mining sector. Let's have a closer look at what's going on…
NUM said that “90,000 members in the construction industry would go on strike f... ››› more
My dad is a civil engineer.
For over 40 years he's been designing and building roads, bridges and pipelines all over the world.
But recently his work has been of a very specific nature.
He's been designing and overseeing construction of roads in various African countries. Not in major cities, but rather near developing mines.
The reasoning behind this is a major factor in the developm... ››› more
My dad is a civil engineer.
For over 40 years he's been designing and building roads, bridges and pipelines all over the world.
But recently his work has been of a very specific nature.
He’s been designing and overseeing construction of roads in various African countries. Not in major cities, but rather near developing mines.
The reasoning behind this is a major factor in the developm... ››› more
Ask anyone what they're investing in this year and you'll hear a wide range of opinions…
"Mining shares are just so cheap you can't avoid them!"
"A new consumer is born every 3 seconds - you need to buy retailers"
"Our banks are in a much better place than international ones; this is a good time to buy"
But the one sector I haven't heard anyone discuss lately is construction. Granted... ››› more
The results of the Competition Commission's investigation into the construction industry are shocking. Today, it emerged that so far 15 firms have agreed to fines amounting to R1.46 billion for participating in collusive behaviour with other companies. Let's see what the investigation unearthed…
Today, members of the Competition Commission confirmed that the body had “investigated 140 projec... ››› more
Over the past year, government's incessant greed has: Legally ‘stolen' 15% of your portfolio's income thanks to its new dividend tax; pushed petrol prices to record highs as it loaded 40% in taxes to the price you pay for every litre for petrol and driven the cost of food through the roof, thanks to the threat of e-tolls in Gauteng and Cape Town. When will it all end? Not soon! In fact, experts ... ››› more
Home
Search
Menu
Our products
