The world is changing fast and to keep up you need local knowledge with global context.
Simon Fillmore told me off air that his clients have Capitec in their portolios. So I guess we should have expected him to put on a smile when discussing the micro-lending group’s financial results for the half year to June. What worries me is that loans advanced – the lifeblood of a business like this … Read more
This interview emphasized the blunder which SA’s politicians made when chasing away Korean KTC’s proposed deal with Telkom. A similar deal by Mauritius Telecom with France Telecom (now Orange) has reaped huge rewards for the island state. Listen to the bandwidth speeds and coverage in the interview below – speeds to the home that are … Read more
Sanlam’s operation in London has the advantage of being able to consider the entire world – so it’s interesting to see a research note pointing out that its favourites of the moment are LVMH and Phillip Morris – direct alternatives to Richemont and BAT which are so popular with SA investors. Popularity that has clearly … Read more
People like me go on about the need to embrace complexity. How we must admit we know a lot less than we think; and how each new discovery is like peeling an onion – we’re suddenly confronted with a whole new layer of stuff that was previously hidden to us. So best to know what … Read more
My UNDICTATED column for Business Day this week has a look at something very close to the heart. In the mid 1990s, I ran Group Communications at ABSA. Among the responsibilities was media relations, an especially tricky task. The relationship between the bank and reporters was at rock bottom. It wasn’t exactly my forte’ either. … Read more
The news cycle is like the proverbial caravan. The dogs bark daily, but it keeps moving on, always seeking out the freshest stories. In the process, some obvious flashpoints get ignored – and when they do hit, surprise everyone. Especially Mr Market. One of the biggest “surprises” waiting to hit South Africa is worsening labour … Read more
When 9/11 hit in late 2001, it paralysed US and, indeed, global business for some months. Kenya is bracing itself for similar fallout from the terrorist attack at Nairobi’s upmarket Westgate Shopping Centre. The atrocity, which has left 69 civilians dead and 200 injured, could hardly have come at a worse time. Nairobi hosts two … Read more
Without a major shake-up in the retirement savings industry, most of us – including big salary earners – face serious financial hardship. That’s the hard-hitting message from a man who has specialised in developing income-producing investments. Simon Pearse, CEO of Marriott, the Income Specialists, sets out the harsh realities faced by most South Africans who are … Read more
Rael Solomon eats, sleeps and drinks labour relations. Has done so for decades. A qualified engineer, he long ago switched to make his living as a labour consultant. As one who sees things from the coalface, it’s not surprising that Solomon has strong views about the way the current chaos and threatened explosion. AMCU, he … Read more
This thought-provoking contribution came via e-mail from a BizNewz reader. It’s a very interesting piece, and a quick read to boot. Basically, this reader – a retired gent in his mid-sixties – considers the unintended consequences of measures intended to improve employment conditions. In particular, he thinks about the effect that minimum wages, unions, and central … Read more