What JSE concentration means for portfolio risk
While index investing is generally considered a good diversification strategy because it spreads investments across different assets, industries, and regions, the specific composition of the JSE means that a passive approach may introduce greater concentration risk into portfolios.
Trading update : 22 January 2025
With all eyes on Davos as global leaders meet at the World Economic Forum, US President Donald Trump continues to reshape the established world order. While markets work to understand the implications and consider an investment universe with less US exposure, CEOs like Prosus’s Fabricio Bloisi are forging ahead with confidence and bold plans, with particular focus on AI-led expansion into emerging markets, like India and LatAm.
Trading update : 9 January 2026
As we kick off 2026, a potent mix of state-led growth, technological advances, a commodities super cycle, and structural reforms are reshaping the global investment landscape. China remains a major cog in the global growth engine, with recent GDP upgrades and forecasts signalling the Chinese equity market still has room to run. This resurgence is part of a broader “risk-on” sentiment in emerging markets, where billions are flowing into ETFs as investors hunt for discounted valuations and a cushion against a stabilising dollar. Meanwhile, the AI arms race is entering a new phase of hardware accessibility following AMD’s launch of the MI440X targeting smaller corporate data centres. Closer to home, South Africa is flashing “greenlights” for investors as fiscal consolidation and electricity reforms begin to bear fruit.
Should I reinvest my Two-Pot Retirement Withdrawal?
In a country where the savings rate is very low and only about 6% of South Africans can afford to retire and maintain their current lifestyle, the two-pot retirement system was a major development for South Africa.
Since launched in September 2024, it’s made headlines for the amount of money withdrawn and the reasons people accessed the available funds.
Now that the initial frenzy has died down and a new withdrawal window is set to open in the new tax year in March, it’s important to consider whether it’s beneficial to use the available funds and how to get the most from any withdrawal.
Investor relations: Feeding you the investment info you need
Information is the lifeblood of every informed investment decision, which is why astute stock investors scour through quarterly and annual financial reports and other sources to get transparent and timely insights about the company and its performance and future prospects.
Without access to this data, investors would need to base their decision to buy, sell or hold a stock purely on speculation, rumours, or trends, which would significantly increase risk.
Trading update : 5 December 2025
Strategic AI interests are shaping the geopolitical and business landscapes, driving focused investments and literal power plays. A growing, high-spending crypto-wealthy consumer segment is proving a tailwind for luxury retail, while global investors are finding value in UK equities while anticipating broader global equity growth outside the US, with a China a major beneficiary of sustained inflows. Locally, business sentiment is rebounding, and the retail sector is flashing positive signals.
How the rand-dollar exchange rate affects your trading
Investing offshore is not only a good idea to access a broader opportunity set and diversify a portfolio across different geographies, sectors, and themes, but it also offers South African DIY investors the potential opportunity to benefit from differences in the rand-US dollar (ZAR/USD) exchange rate.
According to a working paper by the IMF, the ZAR/USD exchange rate is driven far more by global forces than by local data. The biggest contributors to rand volatility are swings in global commodity prices and rising investor fear, often measured by the VIX.
Unexpected U.S. economic data also moves the rand by shifting expectations around the dollar and interest rates. At home, political uncertainty tends to amplify volatility, along with local economic surprises.
What are inverse ETFs?
DIY investors can utilise inverse ETFs to profit from market declines or hedge against portfolio losses. They also offer an alternative to traditional short selling, which requires a margin account and entails specific risks and management costs.
Trading update : 13 October 2025
US market optimism is hitting extremes, even as a $16 trillion surge in the S&P 500 sparks “bubble trouble” fears, particularly around AI infrastructure debt and chip demand. Meanwhile, cautious growth forecasts in Europe, and a healthy emerging market outlook add layers of complexity, and opportunities to the global investment thesis.
What are monthly income ETFs?
Monthly income ETFs are a carefully curated basket of income-generating investments, such as dividend-paying stocks, bonds, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and other securities, all managed by professionals who collect the income from these holdings and distribute it to you on a monthly schedule.