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2015: A tough year, but changes benefit investors

07 December 2015

2015 was an eventful year in the markets, with investors being reminded by events in countries like Greece and China how quickly seemingly calm seas can turn choppy and how swiftly currencies can stumble.

Easy global monetary policy to provide favourable backdrop for global equities in 2016, says Old Mutual Investment Group

02 December 2015

With commodity prices bearing the brunt of China’s slowing growth and a struggling South African economy putting SA companies’ profits under pressure, the sources of returns we’ve seen over recent years in the SA market, have all but dried up. This is according to Old Mutual Investment Group’s fourth quarterly investment update for 2015, where its presenters highlighted that, given the current global environment, developed markets, in particular European equities, will offer the best source of returns in 2016, and that investors should expect lower returns considering the high returns seen over the past few years.

Africa – growing despite the challenges

01 December 2015

Africa still remains one of the fastest growing regions in the world, despite the recent headwinds. As yet unrealised growth potential and positive demographics continue to make for an attractive long-term investment destination, says St.John Bungey of Sanlam’s Africa Investments.

Consumption in China: From commodities to karaoke

27 November 2015

There has been great concern regarding the slowdown of growth in China and its impact on commodity demand and, therefore, commodity prices. Crude oil’s price gyrations tend to get the most attention, but China’s share of global oil consumption is about 12%, which is significant but less than that of the United States.1 One could argue that Chinese demand patterns likely have played an even greater part in influencing prices of many other commodities where China holds an even larger share of global consumption. China’s share of global grain consumption was around 22% in 20142 and its share of global metal consumption tripled from 13% in 2000 to 47% in 2014.3 China is a key consumer of aluminum, nickel, copper, zinc, tin and iron ore. Of course, China isn’t only a consumer of raw commodities—its growing middle class has been exerting formidable purchasing power and spawning new domestic industries that are of keen interest to us as investors, including cosmetics, entertainment (cinemas, music) and more.

quick poll

Question

If you had to hazard a guess, when do you reckon the COFI Bill will be signed into law?

Answer

2026, as promised 2027 looks more likely Impossible to say More consultation needed

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