Jerome Powell’s highly anticipated speech at the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) annual Jackson Hole summit provided key forward guidance. He acknowledged that there had been an “unmistakeable” cooling in the labour market, adding that policymakers had “ample room” to respond to a more pronounced deterioration. However, he stressed that the timing and pace of cuts would hinge on “incoming data, the evolving outlook and the balance of risks.”

Roné Swanepoel, Head of Sales at Morningstar South Africa, emphasises the dangers of performance chasing in investing. Highlighting that only 25% of S&P 500 stocks outperformed the index in 2024, she argues that switching to recent top performers often leads to poor long-term returns.

Izak Odendaal, Old Mutual Wealth Investment Strategist, reflects on global economic challenges, highlighting the US Federal Reserve's potential for a soft landing amid inflation concerns. He contrasts this with China’s slowing growth and emphasizes the importance of South Africa’s economic resilience.

Southern Africa's Private Equity (PE) industry is thriving despite economic challenges, with fundraising reaching a 13-year high. The sector is attracting significant international investment, emphasizing its resilience and growing importance in driving economic recovery and transformation in the region.

Curate, a newly established independent global asset manager, has launched with a unique range of unit trust funds. Curate simplifies the investment process by handpicking the world's best fund managers for each of its unit trusts, offering investors a curated selection of exceptional investment opportunities.

In the start-up world you will find many views on whether men or women bring the most value. ANZA Capital, a local venture capital funding firm unpacking the impact of diversity in SME funding with a specific focus on investment into women-led start ups.