Explore the Category

Go to the ANT, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise

13 February 2022

Nothing illustrates the impact of exponential improvements in technology on the financial services sector than a head-to-head comparison of Bank of America and Ant Group. The former is a US banking heavyweight with around 67 million customers, mostly onboarded after the then 94-year-old business was acquired by NationsBank of Charlotte in 1998. Ant Group, meanwhile, is rooted in China. It is an affiliate of the Alibaba Group, which holds a host of financial services brands, including Alipay, with has gained more than a billion active users in around 19 years.

Pay attention to the risk environment, or live to regret it

20 January 2022

A thorough understanding of the global risk environment is necessary for firms operating in today’s competitive marketplace. Even small and mid-size, domestically-focused firms can get a jump on competitors by staying up to date on the dominant themes keeping the leadership teams at global multinational corporations up at night. The Global Risks Report 2022 (GRR), published annually by the World Economic Forum (WEF), offers a comprehensive assessment of prevailing risk sentiment. This year’s report was compiled with assistance from Marsh McLennan, SK Group and Zurich Insurance Group.

The #1 question clients ask their brokers

08 December 2021

The top question being asked by South African investors of their financial advisers is whether they should still invest their discretionary savings locally, or rather take all of these funds offshore. There are countless compelling reasons to give in to the ‘everything offshore’ argument; but South Africa cannot be ignored. “You should still consider local investments; but it is important for your clients to have sufficient global exposure to make the most of opportunities in the rest of the world,” said Dr Francois Stofberg, Senior Economist and Head of Sales at Efficient Group, during the asset manager’s recent Global Investment Conference.

China’s common prosperity obsession leaves investors in a return twilight zone

30 November 2021

Equity investors with heavy exposure to China will want to put 2021 behind them following a 12-month period of seemingly absurd policymaking by that country’s ruling Communist Party. It was a year during which regulators made repeated forays into both the business and financial market environments, causing untold financial harm to asset managers, entrepreneurs, investors and shareholders alike. Their actions, or so it is reported, are aimed at protecting the common prosperity goals that are part of the Communist Party manifesto.

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

View the Results

Just eight crazy stages to catapult SA back into the stone age

12 November 2021

Technicolour dream coat? Not if you’re weaving with South Africa’s ‘hard fact’ fibres…

30 October 2021

SA’s SMMEs face a slow strangle as red tape litters the business environment

15 October 2021

Opportunities in SA’s retirement dilemma

06 October 2021

Can coal-fired anything survive climate change?

22 September 2021

Creating ambassadors for South Africa’s non-life insurance industry since 2015, Part II

06 September 2021

Creating ambassadors for South Africa’s non-life insurance industry since 2015

30 August 2021

On fluffy ponies, purple unicorns, virtual love and other crypto craziness

16 August 2021

« ‹ 5 6 7

9 10 11 › »

Talked About Features / Straight Talk