Why the ECB and Fed should increase interest rates now

In response to the financial crisis in 2008, reserve banks in the developed world reduced their interest rates to the lowest levels on record. In fact, some of the interest rates have gone into negative territory. Slashing the interest rates is a classical response to...

The trouble with buying Index Trackers in South Africa

AB Inbev has recently announced that they intend to complete one of the biggest mergers in history, namely that of them and SAB Miller. It is astounding to see that a well-run South African company is being valued at about R1.4 trillion Rand. The SAB share price rose...

Eskom management misses the point

Eskom presented their latest financial results yesterday. To a surprise of many, they produced an annual profit of R3,6 billion. Although in general a profit is what you would want a company to produce, in this case it raises serious questions about the management...

‘Pot of money’ approach is wrong

“South African retirement plans that are designed to provide you with “a pot of money” at retirement have completely the wrong focus, a Harvard professor and Nobel prize winning economist currently on a visit to South Africa, says.”By Laura du PreezRead...

What we have learned from Greece

Once again, Greece has been bailed out, and taken on more debt provided by the other European countries and in return have promised to implement reforms. The Greek politicians hate the deal, but have agreed to implement it. However, they should at  least try and...