What’s New

For more than a decade, South Africans have endured declining economic growth, persistent load shedding, and weak governance. Growth in real gross domestic product (GDP) has averaged less than 1% since 2014. It is tempting to think that this decline could continue indefinitely but we have already absorbed the worst shocks. Barring a severe political or service-delivery shock, the probability of a sustained collapse to zero or negative growth is very low.

Many South Africans who are starting out and trying to find their way in personal finance may be asking the question, “What is short term insurance, and why is it critical to protect my assets?” These are important questions for new investors and must be answered correctly. Unlike long-term policies, such as life or retirement insurance, these policies are designed to provide immediate cover for unforeseen events that could impact your possessions today. The financial experts at Efficient Wealth explain why this type of cover is vital.

The global economy resembles a chessboard, with each region playing its own strategy. Three stories now connect in telling ways: China is battling deflation with a new slogan, India is profiting from discounted Russian crude, and emerging markets are racing back to international bond markets on a wave of investor optimism.