CATEGORIES

Why You Should Become An Active Shareholder

Many investors feel attending annual general meetings and voting on issues like directors’ remuneration is pointless, but Simon Brown maintains that this is an important part of being a responsible shareholder.

Best-Kept Secret: Direct Shares In Your Retirement Annuity

There are tax benefits if you structure your retirement annuity in a certain way.

No Better Time To Be Alive

Local politicians would do well to recognise that improvements in South Africans’ standard of living will require increased investment in innovation, science and technology.

Don't Follow The Herd Into Low-Quality Earnings

Avoid cyclical businesses, such as construction, for long-term investments, decide on the price that you’re prepared to pay – and don’t spend a cent more.

What Are My Options If I Want A Direct Offshore Non-Rand-Denominated Investment?

If you want to physically take your rands offshore in a foreign-denominated currency investment, you first have to decide if you want to invest directly in shares or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or if you want to invest in foreign unit trusts, says Magnus de Wet, director of Vista Wealth Management.

A Business With A Conscience

Spier Wine Farm is one of only a few wineries in the country to have grown despite the tough economic conditions of the past few years. We caught up with Spier CEO Andrew Milne to find out more about its business strategy.

De Beers: Canadian Mine Now Commercial

Gahcho Kué in Canada is where De Beers is involved in a joint venue to construct that country’s first new diamond mine in more than eight years.

Cities As A Poverty-alleviation Tool

Citizens living in poor rural areas seek out economic opportunities by migrating to cities. We need policy to help accommodate urbanisation, because it’s not going to slow down.

The Mining Sector's Biggest Enemy

Increasingly, environmental, social and governance concerns are affecting valuations in the mining industry.

Liquor Sales Shine

The Spar Group acts as a wholesaler and distributor of goods and services to Spar supermarkets, Build it building materials outlets, and Tops at Spar liquor stores.

Global Recycling Industry In Crisis As China Bans Waste Imports

The world’s most populous country stopped absorbing rubbish from developed economies this year, disrupting the $200bn global recycling industry. Countries like the US and Germany are scrambling for solutions as scrap piles up.

Finding New, Smart Perspectives

Although the market outlook on South Africa has cooled somewhat since the first quarter, there are some great opportunities to be found, as illustrated by the funds we look at in this edition.

Beware The Lure Of Easy Money

Pipcoin creater Ref Wayne resurfaced recently — again promising returns that are too good to be true.

How to Deal With Infighting

When your office turns into a battleground between warring co-workers, every word is a weapon and every action potentially explosive. Here’s how to manage the conflict.

Virtual Yet Real Estate

 Using virtual and augmented reality, PHNX Digital is set to change property marketing in South Africa.

Cleaning Up SA's Political Mess

As long as the poor people living in the rural parts of the country are dependent on social grants for their survival, they will continue to support the ruling party.

The Battle For Free Knowledge

The battle for free knowledge The issue regarding free access to academic journals and content is growing increasingly contentious, with founders of sites that enable this facing the might of the law. But should knowledge be exclusive?

The Perils Of Using Fake Car Parts

The perils of using fake car parts Cash-strapped motorists risk falling prey to sellers of counterfeit and sub-standard car parts which, in the long run, could cost them dearly. So how do they trust that the part they are sold is the real deal? Having a broad understanding of the auto component industry is a starting point.

From Barley To Beer

SAB Miller has played an important role in developing barley production in South Africa. However, in the wake of the AB InBev takeover, will the focus shift?

De Beers Shakes Up The Synthetic Diamond Market

The mining giant has launched its own line of artificial stones, but some fear this move might backfire, and impact the price of real diamonds.

Beards, Bikes And Balms: Who Says It's A Man's World?

Her husband’s struggles with a freshly growing beard marked the start of Monique Fleming’s business Bonafide Beards.

The Risk Of Underperforming

When you invest, losing money is not the only risk you will encounter. The other issue is underperforming the market. And if this happens, you will eventually have less money to retire on. 

Time Is Of The Essence: The Pitfalls Of Sequence Risk

Here are four ways you can ride out the ups and downs of the market during retirement.

Key Lessons From Berkshire Hathaway's Gurus

Investors are bound to walk away a little smarter from this company’s annual shareholder meeting, hosted by legendary chairman Warren Buffett and vice-chairman Charlie Munger.

How innovative thinking shaped SA's rose powerhouse

By changing the way in which roses are propagated, Ludwig Taschner of Ludwig’s Roses has managed to create a nursery that boasts the largest selection of rose varieties in the world.

Heading for Murky Waters

Recent rains have brought relief to many drought-stricken parts of the country, with forecasts indicating that South Africa might be out of the woods this year. But concerns around the management of water infrastructure remain.

How to Cope With Being Sidelined

Feeling ignored or ostracised at work can undermine your confidence and your career prospects. Here’s how to empower yourself and bounce back.

The Conscious Investor: It Pays to Be Nice

As responsible investment practices gain traction in South Africa and globally, increased shareholder activism is likely to see CEOs and chief operational officers called to publicly answer tough questions around management and investment decisions.

Passionate about visual storytelling

Jack Parow and Freshlyground’s action-packed spoof of the spy genre, Army of One, won the award for the best music video at this year’s South African Music Awards. Craig Parker, CEO of Motif Studios, who co-directed this video, talks about Motif Studio’s journey into show business.

Beware Those Concentration Risks

Holding too much of a single stock – even if it is a star performer – is never a good idea.