Joy Immelman (Main Author)

There were no real surprises in Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene’s national budget, but that does not make the income and fuel and electricity tax hikes any less palatable for hard-pressed taxpayers.   Income tax for all but the lowest income band goes up by one percentage point.

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While forecasting has often been labelled a fool’s game, there is still immense value in taking a broad look at the markets and the general direction in which they are headed.  Here are some key points to consider when looking ahead at what 2015 may have in store for investors:

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The petrol price fell by a further 93c/L this week on February 4.   Kevin Lings, Chief Economist at Stanlib wrote an interesting article on the ramifications of the fall in oil prices for the SA economy and consumers.   Click here to read the article.

With the dramatic drop in oil prices and the consequent slowing of inflation there has been some speculation about the future direction of interest rates.   Nazmeera  Moola, Economist and Strategist at Investec Asset Management, has an interesting view on this issue.   Click to read the article: “Tone of MPC statement key to rate expectations”.

While looking too far ahead can be a fool’s game, we believe that taking a quick look back at the markets – and the forces shaping them – is a valuable exercise. Here is a short and sharp summary of how the local and international markets fared last year…

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For the world of finance 2014 has not exactly been an ‘annus horribilis’, but it has not been an easy ride either.  Investec Asset Management director Jeremy Gardiner looks back at the good, the bad and the ugly events that shaped the markets over the past year.  Click to read the article: “Healing, but some parts still hurt”

Nene’s Hospital Pass is an interesting article by Moneyweb on the 2014 Medium Term Budget.  Click to read the article: “Nene’s Hospital Pass”