Corion Capital's David Bacher unpacks asset class and fund performance data for the month of September, which turned out to be a turbulent month for all asset classes. The Corion Report (attached below for ease of reference) is an informative and comprehensive summary of the price action for the month. Bacher notes that although the JSE was down around 5%, similar drawdowns were experienced in the US - where the S&P 500 and tech heavy Nasdaq were down 5% and 6% respectively. Lastly, Bacher mentions the importance of diversification, outlining that no one asset class nor fund manager can perform continuously.

Sasfin Securities David Shapiro leads the week's investment insights as the veteran money manager delves deeper into the Evergrande saga. Alibaba, one of the Chinese tech titans, is discussed at length as well as whether the Chinese internet giants drawdowns have been over-exaggerated. The active vs passive management debate is touched on, with Shapiro being an active manager outlining his passion and thesis for the industry. Lastly, given president Ramaphosa's decision to return the country to Level 1, Shapiro talks about the benefits and tailwinds the hospitality and leisure shares will experience.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, Stuart Lowman is joined by Sasfin's David Shapiro with investment insights; Lord Peter Hain on removing SA from the UK red list; Phil Craig of the Cape Independence Advocacy Group discusses some big news in the political sphere; the global editor at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, James Ball, brings us into the dirty underworld of the tobacco industry and the BizNews Team.

News headlines: * The UK has finally agreed to remove SA from its controversial red travel list. The changes, which are expected to be announced on Thursday, will mean travellers would no longer be expected to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense. * Trading in shares of China's debt-laden property group Evergrande was suspended on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange today after it missed a key bond interest payment last week - its second offshore debt obligation in a week. * Multinational chemical producer UPL faces a criminal probe after it illegally stored hazardous chemicals in a warehouse in Durban that was looted and set ablaze during South Africa's social unrest in July.

Phil Craig of the Cape Independence Advocacy Group joins BizNews founder Alec Hogg to discuss some big news in the political sphere. Craig recently told BizNews that the group had handed over a referendum request on Cape Independence. While the DA has said it does not support the idea of Cape Independence, it is open to the referendum itself. Craig discusses meeting with numerous political parties on the topic. "We asked them two questions - do they support Cape Independence? Regardless of whether they support it or not, are they willing to allow the people of the Western Cape...to determine whether they want independence."

Capitec CEO Gerrie Fourie discusses the bank's financial results amongst other things as the JSE darling reports bumper earnings. Fourie explains that although earnings can not comparable to 2020, due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing lockdowns, but have increased by 35% since 2019. That equates to a 16% compounded earnings growth rate over the period. Lastly, the Viceroy saga is well and truly behind Capitec as the FSCA slapped the short-seller with a R50m fine for making ‘false, misleading and deceptive statements’ about Capitec in 2018, which led to a 23% drawdown in its share price.

South Africa was placed on the UK’s red list in December - a status which has been severely destructive to the South African economy. South Africa's UK red list placement requires tourists from the UK to quarantine for ten days at their own expense in government-selected hotels when they return. The exorbitant costs related to this quarantine requirement effectively halts the income that the country receives by virtue of travel between South Africa and the UK. According to a study conducted by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the restrictions imposed by way of the dreaded red list could lead to losses that equate to more than R26m every single day. In mid-September, the UK revised its red list. South Africa was not one of the eight countries that were removed - despite the fact that three of those countries (Sri Lanka, Maldives and Turkey) have higher and rising rates of infection in comparison to South Africa. South African anti-apartheid activist Lord Peter Hain spoke to BizNews founder Alec Hogg about the nonsensical nature of our country's continued red list placement, a status which he believes 'has no justification in science.' Hain wrote a letter to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to protest against the UK government's failure to remove South Africa from the red list. Hain raises several excellent points in the letter - all of which highlight that the country's continued red list status is both unjustified and illogical.

On the show this week Charl Botha speaks to David Lerche - head of equities at Sanlam Private Wealth - on the business and investment merits of Mondi, one of South Africa's best corporate exports.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, Stuart Lowman is joined by Jean-Pierre Verster with investment insights; Capitec CEO Gerrie Fourie on results; PPC CEO Roland Van Wijnen on group's restructuring and refinancing project; Counterpoint's Piet Viljoen; Ramtsilo Bricks's Kedibone Tsiloane on eco bricks company and the BizNews Team.

News headlines: *The latest South African stock exchange launched today pledging to lure firms from across the continent with listing costs that are a third of that charged by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. *Six South African health department officials who were linked to a corruption scandal will be suspended from their posts on Thursday pending a disciplinary hearing and the formalisation of charges against them, Health Minister Joe Phaahla said. *The Investigating Directorate has said it would be monitoring the movements of alleged Gupta fixer Kuben Moodley who has now been released on bail.

PPC CEO Roland Van Wijnen provided further context to the cement manufacturers upbeat announcement relating to its restructuring and refinancing project update.

Protea Capital Management founder and hedge fund guru Jean-Pierre Verster joins the BizNews Power Hour, leading Thursday's investment insights.

The Western Cape's first stock exchange in over a century opened for business this morning when Eugene Booysen, CEO of the Cape Town Stock Exchange, rang the opening bell. The session also saw the debut of agricultural group TWK, the CTSE's 8th listing. In this clip we get to share in the excitement of the inaugural session, hearing from Booysen and CTSE's chairman JJ Njenje.

Sbu Shabalala's successor Tiffany Dunsdon joined the BizNews team on Adapt IT's results day. It's been a rollercoaster of a year for Adapt IT, with the software business being the subject of a hostile takeover bid by the Huge Group and a friendly offer from Volaris. The Volaris cash offer of R7 per share looks a foregone conclusion with Adapt IT set to become another departure from the local bourse. Whilst all this has been happening, ex-CEO Sbu Shabalala resigned following allegations that he ordered an assault on his estranged wife's partner. Dunsdon reflects on the challenges and difficulties faced since taking the reins only a few weeks ago.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, Stuart Lowman is joined by Magnus Heystek with investment insights; SAFAIR launches an international route - CEO Elmar Conradie; double Paralympic gold medalist Ntando Mahlangu; Adapt IT CEO TIffany Dunsdon; Easy Equities’ Shaun Keeling on September’s retail investor movements and the BizNews Team.

FlySafair, a low-cost South African domestic airline, is spreading its wings and branching out to provide its first international route. From December, the airline will be offering flights to Mauritius, a popular holiday destination for many South Africans. BizNews journalist Jarryd Neves spoke to CEO Elmar Conradie, who notes that the product will work on this specific route as it's "more aimed at leisure travellers". He also gives insights into the regulations around Covid-19 and what's next for the company.

News headlines: *President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the release of the Special Investigating Unit report into the Digital Vibes corruption scandal that erupted in May this year. *The state capture inquiry has been granted a fifth extension, giving the team three months to complete three years’ work. *Envoys from some of the world’s richest nations met with South African cabinet ministers on Tuesday to discuss a climate deal that could see billions of dollars put toward ending the country’s dependence on coal.

Brenthurst Wealth Management founder Magnus Heystek leads Wednesday's market insights with the veteran investment strategist covering a number of topical investment themes. Magnus outlines that currency fluctuations shouldn't be the only factor when choosing an investment destination, with growth prospects being an important element. Magnus has had his radar on the Japanese stock market for a while and he says the change in politically leadership is going to have a positive impact on the country's economy. Sygnia's diverse range of ETF products and the volatility in the commodity counters round up the conversation.

Earlier this week, the Cape Independence Advocacy Group formally handed over a request for a referendum on Cape independence. Phil Craig, the co-founder of the group, joined Alec Hogg to unpack exactly what this new development means for the Cape and the rest of South Africa. "I think we all understand that things are going horribly wrong in South Africa, and we are all looking for solutions. The solution that we put on the table is independence for the Western Cape, and we want to democratically consult with the people of the Western Cape and find out how they feel about it," he explains. Craig also goes into detail about why it makes sense for the Democratic Alliance (DA) to support the referendum in the lead-up to elections.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, Stuart Lowman is joined by Steven Nathan with investment insights; Samantha Skyring, CEO of Oryx Desert Salt on serving salt abroad; the youngest mayoral candidate DA's Geordin Hill-Lewis on holding on to Cape Town; ARMOUR founders Anthony and Helen Duigan on cleaning rivers and bringing communities together, and the BizNews Team.

News headlines: *South Africa can’t afford to implement a basic income grant, South Africa’s biggest business organisation said, wading into an argument that has divided the ANC. *South Africa recorded its first quarterly primary budget surplus since 2018 in the three months through June, a sign that the National Treasury’s efforts to bring spending in line with revenue are succeeding. *New data shows how South Africa’s tourism industry was completely hammered by lockdown in 2020, losing approximately R164 billion in tourism spending and around 1 million jobs tied to the industry.

As is customary for a Tuesday, 10X founder Steven Nathan gives us the inside scoop of what is happening in local and international markets.

ARMOUR - Action for Responsible Management of OUR Rivers - is an organisation that was created in 2015 by a handful of concerned citizens who were alarmed to witness a major sewage spill into the Jukskei River in Johannesburg. Anthony and Helen Duigan - a couple in their late 70s - were at the vanguard of what became a mass movement to save the rivers of Gauteng. In an interview with BizNews, Anthony and Helen Duigan relayed the story of ARMOUR - which ‘didn't start because of an intent, but started almost by accident’ - and the roots of their environmental activism. Over and above the remarkable work that ARMOUR does are the inadvertent benefits of ‘bringing real South Africans together’ and ‘creating links across the racial and class divides.’ After the interview, Helen told me the story of how, when she was just 8 years old, her grandfather asked her what the most important thing in the world was. Her answer? Water.

As is customary for a Monday, Sasfin Securities David Shapiro talks to the BizNews team about all the action taking place within global markets. The South African Reserve Bank's decision to keep rates unchanged was one of the main talking points, with Shapiro outlining the need for the policy makers to keep rates as low as possible in order to stimulate economic growth. Shapiro touches on the energy crisis and supply chain issues affecting the Northern Hemisphere, with the veteran analyst stating that the disruptions will fade as Covid becomes a distant memory. Lastly, Shapiro discusses three JSE-listed heavyweights - Aspen, Capitec and Sasol - giving the pros and cons of each as an investment proposition.

In this episode of the BizNews Power Hour, Stuart Lowman is joined by David Shapiro speaking markets; Rob Hersov – unfettered and unafraid part two; co-founder of the Cape Independence Advocacy Group Phil Craig after formally handing over a request for a referendum today; TreasuryONE's Andre Cilliers unpacks local and international currency movements and the BizNews Team.