Author: Simone

VAT, Politics, and the Price of Borrowing: A Fiscal Crossroads for South Africa

VAT, Politics, and the Price of Borrowing: A Fiscal Crossroads for South Africa  In the weeks leading up to Freedom Day 2025, South Africa’s financial narrative took a sharp turn. What began as a technical proposal to raise VAT was abruptly shelved amid political turbulence and legal intervention. The reversal marked more than a fiscal […]

Tariff Fears Drive U.S. Trade Deficit to Historic High in March 

Tariff Fears Drive U.S. Trade Deficit to Historic High in March  In a striking economic signal underscoring the impact of global trade tensions, the U.S. trade deficit surged to a record high in March as importers raced to beat the clock on anticipated tariffs. The data reflect how businesses, bracing for the fallout of then-President […]

Berkshire Hathaway vs. the S&P 500: A Modern-Day Investment Showdown  

Berkshire Hathaway vs. the S&P 500: A Modern-Day Investment Showdown  Few comparisons in the world of investing are as closely watched—and hotly debated—as that between Berkshire Hathaway and the S&P 500. On one side stands a single conglomerate steered by legendary investor Warren Buffett. On the other, a broad index representing the 500 largest publicly […]

Cooling Inflation Reignites Rate-Cut Expectations Amid Growth Concerns 

Cooling Inflation Reignites Rate-Cut Expectations Amid Growth Concerns  As inflationary pressures continue to ease, speculation surrounding an imminent interest rate cut by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has gathered fresh momentum. Economists are increasingly pointing to softening consumer price growth and subdued economic expansion as reasons for monetary policy recalibration. Yet, the timing and […]

Asian Banks See Surge in Wealth and Forex Product Demand Amid Currency Rally  

Asian Banks See Surge in Wealth and Forex Product Demand Amid Currency Rally  A broad rally in Asian currencies is fueling a boom in wealth and foreign exchange product demand across the region, as investors reposition portfolios and banks capitalize on stronger local currencies to push high-margin services.  Led by gains in the Japanese yen, South Korean […]

Green Horizons and Grey Realities: The Diverging Paths of BYD and UPS in a Changing Global Economy 

Green Horizons and Grey Realities: The Diverging Paths of BYD and UPS in a Changing Global Economy  As the global economy shifts under the pressures of decarbonization, digitization, and geopolitical realignment, two headlines from April 2025 illustrate the contrasting trajectories of modern enterprise. On one side, China’s BYD celebrates the maiden ocean voyage of its […]

Fuel Price Relief for South Africans: Petrol and Diesel Costs Drop in May 

Fuel Price Relief for South Africans: Petrol and Diesel Costs Drop in May  South African motorists have been granted some much-needed financial relief as the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) announced a welcome reduction in fuel prices for May 2025. This change is expected to ease pressure on households and businesses alike, following […]

End of an Era: Berkshire Hathaway Shares Dip as Warren Buffett Announces Exit 

End of an Era: Berkshire Hathaway Shares Dip as Warren Buffett Announces Exit  The financial world stood still for a moment as news broke that Warren Buffett, revered as the “Oracle of Omaha,” would be stepping down from his leadership role at Berkshire Hathaway. The immediate aftermath was swift and emotional—shares of the conglomerate dipped, […]

 Bond Market in midst of VAT reversal  

Bond Market in the midst of VAT reversal In a significant policy reversal, South Africa’s government has abandoned its proposed increase in the value-added tax (VAT), a decision that has reverberated through the nation’s bond market. Initially, the government planned to raise VAT from 15% to 15.5% in 2025 and to 16% in 2026 to […]

South Africa’s Rhino Poaching Crisis Intensifies Despite Enforcement Efforts 

South Africa’s Rhino Poaching Crisis Intensifies Despite Enforcement Efforts  South Africa, home to the world’s largest rhino population, is once again grappling with a resurgence in rhino poaching that threatens both conservation progress and biodiversity. The first quarter of 2025 has already recorded 103 rhinos killed, with 65 of those losses occurring in national parks—vivid […]