Ebnet

Sanisha Packirisamy, Chief Economist; & Tshiamo Masike, Economist; at Momentum Investments Fitch Ratings upgraded South Africa’s (SA) sovereign credit rating from BB- to BB on 5 June 2026, marking the first upgrade since 2005, while maintaining a stable outlook. The upgrade primarily reflects SA’s “record of prudent fiscal management and progress in fiscal consolidation despite weak economic growth and domestic and global shocks”.

Tom Wilson, Head of Emerging Market Equities​ at Schroders When geopolitical risk is elevated, where can investors add value? Generally, investors have very limited edge in predicting geopolitical outcomes. Even the main protagonists may struggle to predict how the Iran conflict evolves.

Cheree Dyers, Chief Executive Officer at Prescient Investment Management We are living through one of the most important technological shifts of our generation. Artificial intelligence is already reshaping how we work, learn, analyse, code, communicate and make decisions. At Prescient Investment Management, we have embraced this shift early and intentionally and we should continue to do so.

Etienne Fourie, Chief Sales Officer at BrightRock Death cover can play an important role in estate planning by helping ensure that financial obligations are met when someone passes away. While many policies are structured as a single lump-sum payment to beneficiaries, estate planning often requires a more considered approach – one that accounts for immediate expenses, ongoing family needs, debts, and the practical costs of winding up an estate.

Meeta Gosai, Head: Income Solutions SIA at Momentum Corporate A living annuity is one of the most widely used retirement income products in South Africa. It allows retirees to invest their retirement savings and draw an income over time, while the remaining capital stays invested. For many people, a living annuity represents decades of hard work, disciplined saving, and financial sacrifice.

Reana Steyn, Head Ombud and CEO of the National Financial Ombud Scheme All three divisions of the National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO) played a role in securing the R442.9 million returned to complainants. Their contributions varied in scale – not because of effort, but because each division oversees different categories of financial products, and the scope of those products determines the size of recoveries.

Bianca Botes, Managing Director at Citadel Global SpaceX filed its Initial Public Offering (IPO) paperwork last week at a $1.77 trillion valuation. The company plans to sell 555 million shares at $135 each when it lists on the Nasdaq on 12 June, raising $75 billion in the process – making it, if it lands at that price, the largest public offering in history. Saudi Aramco’s 2019 listing, which set the previous record, raised $25.6 billion.

Shivani Naidoo, Head of EQT at Old Mutual Wealth South Africans are increasingly rejecting the idea that investing is only for the wealthy, financially sophisticated or nearing retirement. Instead, a new generation of self-directed investors is using digital investment platforms to build wealth on their own terms, shifting investing from an exclusive financial activity into an accessible tool for long-term financial independence.

Shaun Duddy, Head of Product Development at Allan Gray You may have seen the good news in the 2026 Budget that you can now contribute more each year to tax-free investments (TFIs) and retirement funds. But the real benefit isn’t only the higher limits; it is how investing earlier, along with tax relief over time, can meaningfully improve long-term outcomes, according to Shaun Duddy, head of Product Development at Allan Gray.

Trevor Garvin, Head of Multi-Management at Nedgroup Investments The past few weeks have been eventful for both global and local markets, with geopolitical developments, monetary policy decisions, and economic data releases shaping investor sentiment. Locally, political uncertainty remains a key focus as President Cyril Ramaphosa continues to face scrutiny surrounding the Phala Phala matter.