https://platinumwealth.co.za/forum/rss/1-forum-threads.xml/This feed publishes the latest financial topics on the forumenI’ve recently been testing different proxy locations for a small project, and Italy is one of the places I’m considering. I’ve never used an Italy-based proxy before, so I’m curious about other people’s experience. Does choosing an Italian location make much difference when you need to check local websites or test how a service appears from Italy? I’d mainly be interested in general performance, stability, and how easy it is to work with.Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:29:12 +0000I started following cricket more seriously this year because a few friends invited me to watch international matches together. During my first tournament I made the classic beginner mistake of betting based only on the team I liked instead of checking recent form, player injuries, or the match conditions. It wasn't a huge loss, but it taught me that emotions don't always lead to good decisions. Now that the Cricket World Cup 2026 is getting closer, I'd like to avoid repeating those mistakes. What do you think beginners should pay the most attention to? Are there habits that helped you become more consistent when following big tournaments?Thu, 16 Jul 2026 08:58:09 +0000So, what do you usually do in your free time?Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:17:12 +0000President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver his ninth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at 19h00 tonight, 6 February. Watch it hereThu, 06 Feb 2025 20:00:38 +0000Another interest rate cut, slowing inflation, rising retail sales, cheaper petrol and electricity sockets that work all day boost consumer confidence and economic prospects. People believe things are going much better in SA than a year ago. Remember the dark days in November 2023, when everybody was literally sitting in a dark room for a few hours every day – probably stressing about high fuel prices, expensive food and a currency that made a holiday unaffordable? Listen to the full article here: https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/economy/good-times-are-here-again/Fri, 29 Nov 2024 14:44:36 +000010X investment consultant Michael Rossouw has spoken to thousands of investors over the past decade and all too often he hears the words: “I don’t believe in retirement annuities.” Which is strange, as Rossouw and others in the industry will tell you an RA is one of the best long-term investment options. So why the dissonance? Why is it that investors feel this way about retirement annuities? Rossouw’s take is that it boils down to four key issues. Read the full article here: https://www.moneyweb.co.za/in-depth/10x-investments/i-dont-believe-in-retirement-annuities-say-investors/Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:16:15 +0000People who use non-custodial crypto wallets may soon find it more difficult to transfer their tokens to local exchanges to sell back to fiat currency or trade for other cryptocurrencies. The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) recently issued Directive 9, which implements a version of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) “travel rule” in South Africa. It will enter into force on 30 April 2025 and essentially requires crypto platforms in South Africa to identify the parties to a cryptocurrency transaction and verify the data. Read the full article here: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/cryptocurrency/571044-warning-to-people-who-use-their-own-crypto-wallets-in-south-africa.htmlThu, 21 Nov 2024 14:42:25 +0000The South African Banking Risk Centre’s (Sabric) latest fraud report indicates South Africans are as vulnerable as ever, and banks have warned those shopping online to be extra careful. Sabric revealed in its Annual Crime Statistics report for 2023 that digital banking fraud had increased by 45% and related financial losses by 47%. Interestingly, the report found that the most significant vulnerability within digital banking fraud was the banking app, which accounted for 60% of all digital banking crimes. However, card fraud was found to still be a major issue, especially during online transactions. Read the full article here: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/black-friday/568456-black-friday-warning-from-south-african-banks.htmlThu, 07 Nov 2024 14:25:57 +0000Black Friday will be on Friday 29 November 2024. Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States. It traditionally marks the start of the Christmas shopping season in the United States. Many stores offer highly promoted sales at discounted prices and often open early, sometimes as early as midnight or even on Thanksgiving. Let's use this thread to post any specials worth looking at from SA retailers, in the past Black Friday was very big in SA circa 2014/15 since then it has been downhill as purchasing power in South Africa decreased. However each year there are still some deals worth talking about.Tue, 29 Oct 2024 06:59:26 +0000The third quarter of 2024, to the end of September, produced bumper returns for South African investors, with the JSE having its strongest third quarter in 11 years and local bonds also performing strongly. Returns from global equities and bonds, however, were muted. The quarter also saw the rand strengthen against the US dollar, inflation continue its downward trend and, to the relief of consumers paying high interest on their loans, a reversal in the interest-rate cycle in September. The drop of 0.25% in the repo rate, although not making a big difference by itself, signalled more rate cuts to come. Read the full article here: https://www.iol.co.za/personal-finance/financial-planning/words-on-wealth-3rd-quarter-brings-bumper-rewards-for-sa-investors-5e1da9f8-f5f2-4c4f-a4e2-08f4a3bb86e9Mon, 28 Oct 2024 10:08:10 +0000As cyberattacks continue to surge, increasingly targeting small businesses, the need for robust cybersecurity risk management has never been more critical. This October, marking International Cybersecurity Awareness Month, serves as a timely reminder that businesses can adopt simple yet effective measures to safeguard their online presence and protect the sensitive personal data of employees and clients. According to the World Economic Forum, cybercriminals often target smaller companies that serve larger clients. SMMEs that serve critical infrastructure providers and global corporations are particularly at risk, as are those with systems that integrate into regulated industries such as insurance, healthcare, banking, and credit monitoring. Read the full article here: https://www.moonstone.co.za/cybersecurity-awareness-month-small-businesses-must-prioritise-protection-as-cyberattacks-surge/Wed, 16 Oct 2024 14:00:14 +0000Economist Dawie Roodt warned that South Africa’s significant debt burden and the fast rate at which it is increasing mean the country is heading for a financial crisis. Roodt told The Phumlani Majozi Show that public debt is around 75% of South Africa’s gross domestic product (GDP). However, if the debt from the state-owned enterprises and local authorities is added to public debt, which it should be, the debt burden is closer to 90% of GDP. Read the full article here: https://businesstech.co.za/news/finance/794265/south-africas-money-is-finished/Wed, 09 Oct 2024 15:31:36 +0000At the beginning of September, the Supernatural Stocks podcast was themed around blossoming stocks – a nod to spring, and I turned out to be early on the weather. That’s a theme that will come through in this show! It is finally summer here in Cape Town, at least. The top comment on the article from a Moneyweb reader was “Too late she cried” – a reference to how I was covering stocks that had already run so hard. Sure, that might be true, but there’s not much point reading about the markets if you believe all the good stuff has already happened to other people. Listen to the full article here: https://www.moneyweb.co.za/moneyweb-podcasts/supernatural-stocks/heres-why-its-never-too-late-to-catch-market-winners/Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:33:59 +0000Infrastructure development plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth and improving living standards in developing countries, particularly in Africa. From transportation networks to energy systems and digital connectivity, strong infrastructure forms the backbone of thriving economies. Let's explore how infrastructure investments are transforming African nations and catalysing their economic advancement. Read the full article here: https://www.mondaq.com/southafrica/rail-road-cycling/1523782/infrastructure-africa39s-economic-catalystFri, 04 Oct 2024 12:34:46 +0000President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on US businesses to deepen their investment ties with South Africa, highlighting the country's renewed focus on economic recovery and structural reform. Speaking at the SA-US Interactive Business Forum in New York on Monday, the President emphasised the progress made under South Africa's Government of National Unity (GNU) and the vast opportunities available to foreign investors. He said this is a “timely intervention”, referencing his first visit to the US since South Africa's general elections in May, which led to a coalition government of political parties committed to inclusive growth and job creation. Read the full article here: https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/president-ramaphosa-urges-us-business-invest-sas-growing-economyMon, 30 Sep 2024 14:42:09 +0000Justice Minister Thembi Simelane is facing scrutiny over a questionable R575,600 "loan agreement" from 2016, linked to VBS bank corruption. The loan, provided by Ralliom Razwinane's company Gundo Wealth Solutions, appears to have been backdated, with suspicious contradictions in payment dates and inconsistencies in the document. Simelane allegedly used the loan to purchase a coffee shop while serving as mayor of Polokwane, but the timeline and terms of the agreement suggest it may have been faked after the fact. Simelane repaid the loan years later, coincidentally on the same day the Limpopo Treasury demanded answers about a corruption report. Despite multiple requests, she has not provided proof of repayment, fueling further doubts. Full article on Daily Maverick: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-09-30-simelane-and-vbs-loan-agreement-for-coffee-shop-likely-backdated/Mon, 30 Sep 2024 14:15:30 +0000South African fuel prices will drop to their lowest level since February 2022 on 2 October 2024, with the price of 95-octane petrol in Gauteng falling to R21.05 per litre—18% lower than a year ago. Diesel prices will also see a 26% decrease. This reduction, driven by lower international oil prices and a stronger rand, is expected to ease inflation pressures, as fuel directly influences 5% of the inflation basket and indirectly affects most consumer goods. Annual inflation, which slowed to 4.4% in August, may fall further, supporting consumer spending and economic recovery. Read more on Moneyweb: https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/economy/fuel-price-drop-to-2022-low-to-ease-cpi-outlook/Mon, 30 Sep 2024 14:11:42 +0000Spar has made progress in stabilizing its SAP ERP implementation, which initially caused significant disruptions and losses, particularly at the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) distribution center. The botched rollout led to a R1.6 billion loss in group turnover and an operational impact of R720 million in lost profit for the region. Spar has since improved its ERP system, particularly at the KZN facility, and is planning a broader rollout to other distribution centers in 2025. Despite weaker-than-expected sales, total sales grew by 3.5%, with liquor sales performing exceptionally well. The company also reported progress in selling its Polish business and is aiming for a 3% operating profit margin by 2026. Read more here: https://www.itweb.co.za/article/spar-upgrades-botched-sap-system-after-r16bn-loss/rxP3jMBEBJp7A2yeMon, 30 Sep 2024 14:10:11 +0000Most readers would already be aware that Blue Label Telecoms' (JSE:BLU) stock increased significantly by 25% over the past three months. Given that stock prices are usually aligned with a company's financial performance in the long-term, we decided to study its financial indicators more closely to see if they had a hand to play in the recent price move. Particularly, we will be paying attention to Blue Label Telecoms' ROE today. Return on Equity or ROE is a test of how effectively a company is growing its value and managing investors’ money. Put another way, it reveals the company's success at turning shareholder investments into profits. Read the full article here: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/blue-label-telecoms-limiteds-jse-111047392.html?guccounter=1Thu, 26 Sep 2024 08:41:35 +0000By creating this enablement platform, Vodacom has become a mobile virtual network enabler (MVNE), offering the infrastructure and back-end services required to support MVNOs. Interestingly, Vodacom is the third mobile network operator in South Africa to embrace the MVNO model. Cell C pioneered this space and remains the largest host of MVNOs, with Mr Price Mobile continuing to use Cell C’s infrastructure. MTN has also joined the MVNO market. South Africa’s MVNO market is expanding, with various non-telecom brands, such as Shoprite, FNB, and Capitec, entering the space. Vodacom’s partnership with Mr Price Mobile ensures compliance with ICASA’s requirement for network operators to host and support MVNOs following the 2022 spectrum auction. A Vodacom spokesperson confirmed the company’s commitment to the MVNO model, stating, “We are now open for business, and we are ready to onboard additional MVNO partners.”Thu, 26 Sep 2024 08:36:15 +0000African Rainbow Capital’s (ARC) investment in TymeBank is paying off as the company continues to go from strength to strength. ARC’s results for the year through June 2024, released on Monday, revealed TymeBank’s strong performance. ARC is an investment holding company with a diversified portfolio of investments selected to deliver long-term capital growth to investors. In its 2024 results, the company reported that its intrinsic net asset value grew by 21.5% to R18.62 billion. The ARC Fund’s investment portfolio comprises 32.6% mature assets, 54.7% high-growth assets, and 12.7% early-stage assets. Its mature investments include 31 entities, while high-growth assets and early-stage investments comprise nine entities each. The high-growth investments include portfolio companies like the Tyme Group, Rain, Linebooker and Capital Legacy. The Tyme Group, which comprises two businesses — one South African and one Asian — was a standout performer in this year’s results. The Tyme Group’s Asian division — Tyme Asia Holdings — comprises Tyme Global and GOtyme. Tyme Global is a holding company based in Singapore. It is the platform through which multi-country banks are being launched. GOtyme is a digital bank based in the Philippines that was launched in November 2022 and is already showing impressive growth. The company has grown its customer base to 3.6 million within 18 months of launching GOtyme in the Philippines. ARC said the model’s growth trajectory is strong, with activity rates exceeding those of South Africa and deposits growing faster than anticipated. GOtyme is currently ranked sixth 6 in the country regarding EFT transfer and QR payment volumes. The bank is expected to reach profitability in Q4 of 2025. The Tyme Group’s South African segment — Tyme SA Holdings — comprises TymeBank, a leading digital bank in the country. It boasts the largest cash-in and cash-out network in South Africa, thanks to its extensive retail partnership network with Pick n Pay, Boxer, and The Foschini Group (TFG). Read the full article here: https://mybroadband.co.za/news/banking/561668-tymebank-pays-off.htmlSat, 21 Sep 2024 14:38:55 +0000A global organisation backed by Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos’ climate and biodiversity fund said it’s setting up a program to attract investment into South African municipal power grids, which need R319 billion ($18 billion) to prepare for the introduction of more renewable energy. The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, or Geapp, will work alongside partners to prepare projects for investment to repair and upgrade dilapidated grids, said Ziyad Cassim, the group’s South African country representative. See the full article here: https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/international/bezos-backed-group-to-prepare-south-african-grids-for-investment/Mon, 16 Sep 2024 14:39:42 +0000Financial services group Discovery’s share price jumped by more than 4% on Thursday, following a trading statement on Sens in which it flagged an expected double-digit profit rise. The stock reached a new 52-week high and closed at R155.08 – up 4.46% from the previous day. The rally in Discovery’s share price is a welcome turnabout after healthcare shares weakened significantly after President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill into law. Read the full article here: https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/companies-and-deals/discovery-hits-52-week-high-after-flagging-double-digit-profit-growth/Fri, 13 Sep 2024 14:19:43 +0000South Africa is on the path to decarbonisation – doing away with burning coal and other fossil fuels and moving towards renewable, clean energy, such as solar and wind power. However, the coal industry employs 91 000 people. If these workers lost their jobs and were not transferred to new jobs in renewable energy and other sectors, this would devastate entire communities. Read the full article here: https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/south-africa/sas-coal-workers-face-an-uncertain-future/Mon, 09 Sep 2024 15:11:02 +0000Fri, 30 Aug 2024 14:44:41 +0000