South Africa Backs Down on VAT Increase Amid Political Pushback and Market Concerns
South Africa Backs Down on VAT Increase Amid Political Pushback and Market Concerns In a notable fiscal about-turn, South Africa’s National Treasury has withdrawn its proposed increase to the Value-Added Tax (VAT) rate, which was scheduled to take effect on May 1, 2025. The move comes in response to escalating political resistance and widespread concern […]
Beyond Borders: Unpacking the Hidden Tax Trap Facing Offshore Investors
Beyond Borders: Unpacking the Hidden Tax Trap Facing Offshore Investors For South African investors with assets abroad, the dream of international diversification often comes with an underappreciated sting in the tail—situs tax. This lesser-known tax risk, especially prevalent in jurisdictions like the United States, can quietly complicate estate planning and derail the efficient transfer of […]
Gold’s Historic Surge: A Safe Haven Shines Amid Dollar Weakness and Global Tensions
Gold’s Historic Surge: A Safe Haven Shines Amid Dollar Weakness and Global Tensions Gold has once again seized the spotlight in global markets, hitting an all-time high as investors respond to a weakening dollar and the persistent shadow of international trade tensions. The precious metal surged past previous records, driven by a complex mix of […]
NEWS YOU CAN USE – The Magnificent Seven Shaping Markets
The recent prominence of the Magnificent Seven index in dictating market movements highlights a significant trend. This year has seen a further consolidation of market leadership, with notable players such as Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, and Nvidia taking center stage. Dubbed the ‘Fab-4,’ these entities have collectively driven nearly 75% of the S&P 500’s total return. […]
IN OTHER NEWS – Unlocking Currency Value: The Big Mac Index Perspective
The Big Mac Index serves as an informal method to gauge the purchasing power parity (PPP) of different currencies by comparing the prices of Big Mac hamburgers across various countries. This index suggests that exchange rates should ideally reflect the relative prices of identical goods in different nations. For instance, in South Africa, a Big […]
Insights from Industry Experts: Navigating Market Trends and Building Financial Resilience
We hosted a wonderful breakfast with Johan Els (Group Chief Economist Old Mutual Ltd) and Andrew Dittbemer (Chief Investment Officer) from Old Mutual. This is what they had to say. Johan Els (Group Chief Economist Old Mutual Ltd) Andrew Dittbemer (Chief Investment Officer) We recently hosted an exclusive client breakfast featuring two esteemed guest speakers: […]
The Top 100 Most Valuable Brands
The world’s top 100 brands together are worth over $5 trillion, showing how important brands are for businesses. However, determining the exact value of a brand can be tricky. While investing in a brand can be profitable for years, it’s hard to measure these benefits in financial terms, so most financial regulators don’t include brand […]