Capitalising on global opportunities: The case for South Africans investing in global income assets- By Bastian Teichgreeber,Prescient Chief Investment Officer July 2024 Investors looking beyond South Africa’s borders to diversify their portfolios globally typically focus on the opportunities provided by global equities. However, high interest rates in the currently uncertain investment environment provide another compelling opportunity to invest in high-yielding, low-risk global income assets. Aug 20, 2024 Download Article
Quantitative easing in Japan and the carry trade -By Reza Ismail, Prescient Head of Bonds April 2024 On March 19th, officials at the Bank of Japan (BOJ) declared that they will abandon a series of unconventional policies implemented to stimulate the economy and overcome its deflationary malaise. This decision marked the conclusion of a bold experiment, as they aimed to achieve sustained consumption-based measures of inflation of 2.0%. Jun 25, 2024 Download Article
What you can – and can’t – control in an uncontrollable investment world April 2024 By Murray Anderson, Prescient Head of Retail A tit-for-tat escalation in hostilities between Israel and Iran adds to an already unpredictable geopolitical landscape, and with little certainty regarding the central banks’ next move on the interest rate front, the economic outlook remains highly uncertain. Jun 25, 2024 Download Article
Capitalising on Global Opportunities: The Case for South Africans Investing in Global Income Assets April 2024 Investors looking beyond South Africa’s borders to diversify their portfolio in today's interconnected world should consider highyielding income assets that are benefiting from the current high US interest rate environment, along with the myriad of other global equities not available on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). Jun 25, 2024 Download Article
Lessons from an Unexpected Contender in the Rand's Battle Against Ongoing Currency Weakness BY: BASTIAN TEICHGREEBER, CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER AT PRESCIENT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENTSouth Africa’s rand has had an exceptionally volatile year, almost reaching R20 to the dollar in May before strengthening to about R17.27 in late July and then weakening again to trade between R18 and about R19.30 to date. Most notable about the domestic currency’s weakness is that it has been weak on a relative basis compared with some of the other emerging market currencies and not just against the US dollar, which suggests that there are other forces at work. Apr 19, 2024 Download Article
Private Credit Funds Offer SA Investors a Unique Asset Class with Attractive Investment Qualities BY: MICHELLE GREEN, CREDIT ANALYST AT PRESCIENT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENTIn recent years, there has been a significant shift in the landscape of lending and financing in the US, with a notable surge in the popularity and growth of private credit funds. These funds have gained traction as an alternative to traditional bank lending, and their rise can be attributed to various factors reshaping the financial sector. Apr 19, 2024 Download Article
Local Investors set to Benefit from a Purer, Simpler Benchmark Measure of the Equity Market Performance BY: SEEISO MATLANYANE, HEAD OF EQUITIES AT PRESCIENT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENTStock market indices have long been used to convey the performance of the stock market and their importance has increased with the increasing universe of passive investments that track different indices. Popular examples of indices that investors monitor include the S&P 500 index in the US, the Eurostoxx 600 Index in Europe, or the Nikkei 225 Index in Japan, all considered benchmark measures for investment performance. Apr 19, 2024 Download Article
Interest Rates: Tracing the domino effect on economic stability By CONWAY WILLIAMS, Head of Credit, Prescient Investment ManagementThe intricate interplay of various factors often dictates the trajectory of growth and stability within a nation's financial landscape. One such critical determinant is the interest rate set by the central bank, which can significantly influence a nation's economic direction. Apr 19, 2024 Download Article
Unpacking The US Bond Sell-Off BY REZA ISMAIL, HEAD OF BONDS AT PRESCIENT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENTSince late April 2023, global developed bond markets have sold off conspicuously. In recent weeks, the yield on 30-year US Treasuries hit a 16-year high reaching 4.95 per cent for the first time since 2007 - before the Great Financial Crisis. In a sign of the pervasive impact of the sell-off, German and Italian borrowing costs also hit their highest levels for more than a decade. Apr 19, 2024 Download Article
Systematic Investing: The Future of Investing BY: CONWAY WILLIAMS, HEAD OF CREDIT AND SAJJAAD AHMED, QUANTITATIVE ANALYST AT PRESCIENTINVESTMENT MANAGEMENTIn the rapidly evolving landscape of asset management, integrating quantitative and qualitative skills has emerged as a pivotal trend shaping the industry's future. Quantitative and qualitative approaches bring unique strengths to the table, and it's increasingly evident that synthesising these skill sets is essential in achieving investment success. Apr 19, 2024 Download Article
Transitioning South Africa Away from Coal: A Delicate Balance Towards a Cleaner Future BY CONWAY WILLIAMS, HEAD OF CREDIT AT PRESCIENT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENTSouth Africa faces the significant challenge of transitioning away from coal, long a cornerstone of South Africa’s development, to cleaner, more environmentally sustainable renewable energy. But encouraging prospects for additional funding sources and promising public-private sector collaboration make this delicate balance possible despite the naysayers. Apr 19, 2024 Download Article
Decoding Debt-to-GDP using a Multi-Faceted Risk Score BY: NABEEL KOLIA, PORTFOLIO MANAGER AT PRESCIENT INVESTMENT MANAGEMENTIn the complex landscape of global economics, few metrics have as much influence as the debt-to-GDP ratio – a fundamental indicator that offers a window into a nation's financial well-being and a powerful gauge of its fiscal health and stability. Yet, relying solely on this solitary metric is akin to peering through one window in a multiroomed house. Apr 19, 2024 Download Article
