Allan Gray’s disclosure this week that it owns 6.88% of the equity in now defunct Abil led to many drawing the conclusion that the firm had abandoned its conservative culture and taken a serious punt as the bank was dying. The reality is somewhat different as chief investment officer Ian Liddle explained in this fascinating … Read more
A post-strike look at the performance and structural problems of platinum mining management in South Africa makes a compelling argument for large scale institutional investors to get into the metal itself Jeffrey Christian, Managing Director and owner of CPM Group, tells Alec Hogg in this interview. Investors, he adds, are starting to re-examine the long-term … Read more
In this fascinating interview, 36One’s Jean Pierre Verster explains what made his hedge fund bold enough to “short” Abil – and bank R100m profit for clients as a result. JAN PIERRE VERSTER: We at 36ONE have been the most vocal in our views on the African Bank, and we did back that up by putting … Read more
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – The rand eased within a recent range early on Tuesday, tracking a weaker tone in emerging markets as geopolitical concerns pushed investors toward safe-haven assets. South Africa’s currency fell to a session low of 10.6730 at 0636 GMT, down more than 0.4 percent on its previous close, although that was still within … Read more
Professional investors can find money-making opportunities in just about anything, from weather forecasts to fine wine before it is ready to leave the barrel. After a year of roaring returns, they are turning their attention to shorting publicly listed stocks in the US. This essentially entails selling shares you don’t have and buying them later when the … Read more
May 28, 2011
This article uncovers the way in which a predator feasted on over-optimistic small investors led by a hero to the punting class, Greg Blank.
In the share market, fact is sometimes stranger than fiction. Take the case of the JSE-listed oil exploration company SacOil Holdings, which in the past year rocketed from oblivion to stardom – but this week showed signs of falling back into obscurity.