John Anderson, head of Investments, Products and Enablement at Alexforbes In celebration of Heritage Month, we need to focus on the role sustainability plays in changing the landscape for future generations. In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Today, this is more important than ever. The recent floods in KwaZulu Natal as well as increasing unrest as a result of inequality are good examples that sustainability considerations are increasingly important and require today’s generations to address the issues for the benefit
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Monthly Archives Sep 2022
MERCER’S ASSET ALLOCATION INSIGHTS ON 2022 PENSION ALLOCATION TRENDS IN AFRICA
Johannesburg: Mercer’s Asset Allocation Insights 2022 report released today showed that South African pension funds invest 61% of their portfolios in equities, which is one of the highest equity allocations in the world. Allocations to growth assets increased year on year compared to the previous survey (+6%) as managers adopted a more pro-risk stance and investors looked toward a rebound in business activity despite the emergence of new Covid-19 variants. Mandisa Zavala, Head of Asset Allocation at Alexforbes, explains, “Increased equity allocations were primarily funded by a reduction in cash allocations, with domestic equities being favoured over international equities owing
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ASTRON ENERGY ROLLS OUT NEW LOOK FOR NETWORK OF OVER 850 SERVICE STATIONS ACROSS SA
Astron Energy, which operates the second largest petroleum retail network in South Africa with over 850 service stations, has unveiled its new-look service stations. The rebrand from Caltex to Astron Energy is the most significant change in the South African liquid fuels industry in three decades. It is also a key milestone in Astron Energy’s ambition of becoming the next biggest fuel brand in South Africa. The first Astron Energy sites to feature the new brand include: Chuenespoort along the R37 in Limpopo KwaMakhuta in Amanzimtoti, KZN Nandi in eThekweni, KZN MACS in Brooklyn, Cape Town The entire network of
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WORLD EVENTS AFFECT THE VALUE OF RETIREMENT SAVINGS
Riccardo Fontanella, Head: Technical Marketing at Alexforbes The war between Russia and Ukraine has affected trade and financial markets throughout the world. Many countries, including South Africa, rely on both these countries to import and export goods and resources. The world’s response to the war – putting severe sanctions in place against Russia – has also made goods and resources less available and more expensive. Consumers are feeling the pinch. The rising cost of petrol increases transportation costs and ultimately consumer goods, resulting in a lot of uncertainty about the future. These events, and the way people feel about them,
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GENDER DIVERSITY AND TRANSFORMATION IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR AN IMPERATIVE TO FUTURE SUCCESS
Female representation in management and strategic positions still low Diversity should be a board driven initiative rather than a compliance exercise The work environment should recognise women as both professionals and working mothers Gender diversity and transformation makes good business sense Three women occupying leadership positions in the SA financial services sector believe more needs to be done to break the male domination in the sector where gender diversity and transformation is still low particularly in senior and leadership positions. They say nearly three decades after democracy, discussions on a transformed sector should now be more about the success of
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