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Constructing an investment portfolio is not as easy as 1, 2, 3

18 January 2016

Investing in several “good” funds does not constitute a diversified and robust investment portfolio, and is unlikely to meet your or your client’s investment goals. Here’s why.

Global equity market sell off : the worst start to the year in decades

13 January 2016

The sharp decline of global stock markets during the first week of the year, after Chinese market events sent them into a tailspin, proved to be the worst start to the year for the US in the past three decades and the All Share Index in at least two decades. According to Peter Brooke, Head of Old Mutual Investment Group’s MacroSolutions boutique, the implications of this selloff for SA include a weaker rand, more inflation, additional rate hikes, fiscal tightening and weaker economic growth. However, it is difficult to gauge the extent to which the local economic environment will deteriorate this year.

The China storm: Parsing sentiment and substance

13 January 2016

Stocks got off to an abysmal start to the year, with both developed and emerging markets cratering. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 6.19% to close the week at 16,346, while the S&P 500 Index fell 5.92% to 1,922, and the Nasdaq Composite Index declined 7.27% to 4,643. In fixed income, the yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury fell from 2.27% to 2.11% as its price rose.

7 things pundits are predicating that we don't think will happen this year

13 January 2016

The turn of the year is a time for reflecting on the year past and what the forthcoming year might entail. For the finance industry it is also the time for crystal ball gazing and lists of predictions for the year ahead. Of course, New Year’s predictions tend to be about as successful as New Year’s resolutions – and with this in mind we put an alternative spin on the exercise: what seven events, despite being predicted by highly respected forecasters do we think won’t happen this year.

quick poll

Question

The strongest deterrent against FSP compliance missteps is or should be:

Answer

A criminal conviction Debarment Fine or penalty Any of the above can work

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