Goodbye 2015

It was a long, difficulty year for most Zimbabweans, this 2015. And it's now coming to an end.

Definitely, the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) had its worst year since dollarisation, probably its worst year ever. The market experienced numerous challenges not least the bearish sentiment which saw market capitalisation fall to just over $3 billion with the mainstream industrial index down from 162.79 on 31 December 2014 to 114.17 on 29 December 2015. Considering that the previous year the ZSE had lost 19.46%, its clear the equities market has not brought much joy to investors over the past 24 months.

ZSE: An End or a Beginning?

The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) has had a tumultuous history, moreso in the past 10 years. From the psuedo returns of the hyper-inflationery era which saw the exchange post stratospheric returns to the numerous de-listings, low turnovers and investor apathy of 2014 and 2015, the question arises; Are we seeing the end of the ZSE?

Time we make the 99 year lease REALLY bankable

News in the state media this week suggested that the government and the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ) have finally agreed on provisions that will make the 99 Year Leases bankable. If that is true, then that would be a giant step in the positive direction. If 99 Year Leases become bankable i.e. acceptable as security against bank loans, that would mean that resettled farmers can use their land to access funding from private institutions to support their operations. All good.

Gambling: The Illusion of Investment

Reinhold Niebuhr wrote a prayer that many of us recognize. It goes roughly: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

 

So what does this have to do with investment?