Economy
Light at the end of the election?
The Merchantec CEO Confidence Index recorded an 11.6% decrease in CEO confidence in Q1 of 2019 to a score of 43.3 which is below the neutral score line of 50 points. The largest contributor to this decrease in confidence was economic conditions across all sectors.
Financial Services
Investigating Insurance Indemnities
The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in South Africa, in Centriq Insurance Company Limited v Oosthuizen and another, was tasked with considering the correct interpretation of an exclusion of liability clause contained in a professional indemnity insurance contract.
Fintech
Opinion piece: The progression from banking to bAInking
Today’s customers demand an always-on, immediately responsive customer experience, and banks are turning to the likes of automation, robotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to respond to these demands.
Instruments & Investments
Preference share funding structures: overview of Companies Act and Income Tax Act provisions
Preference share funding structures contemplate the subscription by a funder for preference shares in the share capital of a company with a pre-agreed dividend rate (often linked to a prevailing interest rate) and capital redemption profile.
International
Working in partnership: a new public/private approach to tackle economic crime
2018 saw a major drive across government to tackling illicit finance and economic crime on the basis that “corruption and economic crime undermines our economy, damages our international reputation and communities.”
Markets
April Market Review 2019
Global markets did well on the back of a good earnings season. The S&P 500 had reached over 15% in returns by the end of April, for the year to date.
Personal Finance
Count your winters to, not during, retirement
Winter around the world marks different memories for different people.