Loane Sharp cuts through StatsSA jobs data gobbledegook

After watching one of the clips in this interview, I’ve really seen it all. In recent weeks, StatsSA has released one survey (based on household interviews) which concluded 509 000 jobs were created in SA last year. The same agency published another survey (based on responses from businesses) which said the number was actually 39 … Read more

Irish-run discount airline FlySafair licenced to operate in SA

After being delayed by legal objections from local airline Comair, the new cut-price operator FlySaFair was today given the green light by the Regulator. This followed a reshuffle of its shareholding from 75% to only 25% Irish-ownership. Is it a mere sleight of hand or genuine? Comair’s CEO Erik Venter isn’t sure. – AH   … Read more

Invest in American commercial property online with new platform from Blackstar Property

As I’ve discussed before, the secret to successful investing is to build a balanced, diversified portfolio that includes both domestic and offshore equities, property, bonds, and cash. However, for South Africans, investing in offshore property has historically been tricky. One could buy a home in the US, or invest in listed property, but the opportunities … Read more

Woolworths shares will rebound after Aus-bid reverse – CEO Ian Moir

It was always on the cards that once he’s moved into the hot seat, Woolworths CEO Ian Moir would look to expand the group’s operations in Australia. The Scots-born executive spent 20 years Down Under, highlighted by engineering the turnaround at Woolies’ long-time under-performer Country Road. Soon after taking over as CEO, Moir added Australian … Read more

Consolidation and deals aplenty in the property industry

Listed property is entering a period of consolidation. As we know, interest rates are rising, which drives up the cost of financing. This typically has a subduing effect on property prices, because people have a reduced appetite for taking on high-interest-rate debt. At the same time, companies’ monthly interest payment expenses increase, so they are … Read more

Exciting new payment tool turns your phone into a credit card machine

Just a few days ago, I was complaining to a friend that South Africans seem to be behind the curve on tech innovation, that we don’t seem to be developing exciting technologies like the Americans do. Well, here to put me in my place is entrepreneur Stafford Masie, with his fantastic new Thumbzup pebble payment … Read more

Refocused, restructured BCX now ready to start flying – CEO

  BCX shares have moved little in the past year, a reflection of investor concern at what comes next after the company sold its QLink operation a year ago. In our CNBC Africa Power Lunch interview today CEO Benjamin Mophatlane suggested the hiatus could be over as BCX’s investments into other parts of Africa get … Read more

No SABMiller shares for us, too expensive – RECM’s Hertzog

South African-born SABMiller released a trading statement this morning ahead of finalising full year results to end March. Volumes continue to grow in low single digits and the strength of the US dollar, its reporting currency, is set to hit the bottom line. Deep value investors Re:CM won’t be paying much attention. In our CNBC Africa Power Lunch interview today, … Read more