Investing in Uncertain Times – It’s worth Exploring the Alternatives to Money Market Funds By Conway Williams Prescient Head of Credit; PM, Siphokuhle Zwane Prescient Quantitative Analyst August 2024 Investing in South Africa’s fixed-income market amid various uncertainties, socio-economic issues, elevated yields, and sluggish growth can be challenging. In times of uncertainty, many investors' first instinct is to put their savings into safe-haven funds like money market funds, not considering other investment opportunities that will provide them with better returns. Sep 30, 2024 Download Article
High Yield Credit and Infrastructure: Quasi equity-like Returns with Fixed Income-type Risk By Conway Williams Prescient Portfolio Manager, *Michelle Green Prescient Credit Analyst August 2024 Traditional investment strategies face mounting macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges in today’s investment landscape. With this in mind, we at Prescient Investment Management have had to, and continue to, leverage innovative approaches to achieve robust returns. An example is our particular areas of interest, high-yield credit and infrastructure investment, where we have focussed considerable energy on identifying the opportunities available to investors. Sep 30, 2024 Download Article
ESG Integration: A Critical Component of Risk Management By *Michelle Green (Credit Analyst) and Alyssa April (Quantitative Analyst) at Prescient August 2024 The investment landscape is evolving, with criticisms of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) taking centre stage and naysayers denouncing it as a PR exercise. Despite scepticism and misconceptions labelling ESG as ineffective or irrelevant, research conducted over the past few years has found ESG investments. Sep 30, 2024 Download Article
Unlocking the Potential of Credit in Your Investment Portfolio By *Sajjaad Ahmed, Prescient Portfolio Manager August 2024 As has always been the case, investors, generally speaking, seek stability without sacrificing growth potential. While equities typically dominate the spotlight, credit investments offer a compelling alternative that is both resilient and adaptable, especially when included as part of a diversified portfolio. Sep 30, 2024 Download Article
July investor trends a reminder that market timing is not a wealth-creating strategy. By Murray Anderson, Prescient Head of Retail August 2024 The latest investment flow data from South Africa's Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) paints a familiar picture - investors trying and failing to time the market. In July 2024, we saw a significant shift in money out of equity funds and into fixed-income funds, with net outflows of R10.9 billion across all fund categories. Sep 30, 2024 Download Article
Why ESG naysayers are wrong, and this powerful risk management tool is here to stay. By Conway Williams, Prescient Head of Credit August 2024 ESG’s role in investment management is being increasingly criticised and minimised globally. Some US asset managers are reportedly rethinking the usefulness of integrating ESG and sustainability measures into their decision-making process. Sep 30, 2024 Download Article
Saving vs investing: how hard is your money working for you? By Gabriel Botha, Prescient Retail Business Development July 2024 As kids, we were told to save — save in our bank account, or in our piggy bank. What we didn’t realise then is that if we had invested our money instead, we would have been further on the path to unlocking our financial freedom. Aug 20, 2024 Download Article
Why patience, diligence, and diversification matter in systematic investing By Conway Williams, Prescient Head of Credit July 2024 In the world of investing, it is our view at Prescient Investment Management (PIM), that striving for the perfect balance is crucial for long-term success. We understand that this success hinges on meticulously calibrating strategies to be neither too aggressive nor overly cautious - striking this balance is essential to not expose investors to unnecessary risks; or result in missed opportunities for growth. Being alert to where one is in the market cycle and having the ability to adjust strategies accordingly is key to navigating market complexities and delivering on client promises. Aug 20, 2024 Download Article
Pre-election jitters to push SA offshore investments over R1 trillion By Rupert Hare, Prescient Head of Multi-Asset July 2024 Political uncertainty in the build-up to the elections and longer-term structural economic concerns have seen investors eager to invest offshore. This is reflected in the R73 billion increase in the total assets invested in foreign collective investment schemes to R928 billion in the first quarter of this year from R854.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023. Aug 20, 2024 Download Article
National savings month: mastering compound interest: everyone’s financial superpower By Gabriel Botha, Prescient Retail Business Development July 2024 As we enter the final week of National Savings Month, it's an opportune time to highlight the power of compound interest, a cornerstone of long-term financial growth. Warren Buffett famously described compound interest as the "eighth wonder of the world." His wealth, largely accumulated after his 50th birthday, underscores the transformative power of time and patience in investing. The secret? Start early, invest consistently, and allow compound interest to work over time. As Buffett himself noted, "My life has been a product of compound interest." Aug 20, 2024 Download Article
ESG Integration: A Critical Component of Risk Management By Michelle Green and Conway Williams July 2024 At Prescient Investment Management (PIM), we recognise the scepticism and misconceptions that often surround ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing. It is sometimes unfairly labelled as a "dirty word" by critics who question its effectiveness and relevance. However, our approach to ESG is grounded in pragmatism and a clear understanding of its role in comprehensive risk management. We believe that integrating ESG factors is not only beneficial but essential in today's investment landscape. Aug 20, 2024 Download Article
The importance of differentiating between macroeconomic outlook and market sentiment By Bastian Teichgreeber, Prescient Chief Investment Officer July 2024 In the intricate and forward-looking world of asset management, the distinction between macroeconomic outlook and market sentiment is pivotal. The former gives us an overarching view of the state of the economy and its likely trajectory. In contrast, the latter gives us insights into market participants' psychological and behavioural aspects, which often drive markets and may not reflect macroeconomic fundamentals. Aug 20, 2024 Download Article
