China’s second-largest private sector company Tencent is aiming a cannon at China’s largest private sector company and new darling of the US stock markets Alibaba. The two businesses appear worlds apart. And yet, they are now on a collision course. The reason is social selling, that is, using a mobile phone chat app to sell stuff to one’s friends and contacts.

The situation in South Africa is very different, though it also suffers due to lower commodity prices. The country is facing structural problems, like unemployment, inequality and inflation that will not be resolved in a matter of a few months or even years

2015 will feel an awful lot like 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009. Wall Street and the U.S. government will tell you the economy is doing well, but it won’t feel like it. Despite the obvious economic warning signs, investors are not yet ready to throw in the towel. And they continue to be increasingly optimistic toward a stock market that many believe is both overvalued and ripe for a correction

This year the International CES may be energized by a wave of new exhibitors chasing a top trend in consumer electronics: the Internet of Things.  “The Internet of Things is touching almost every aspect of your life, and it’s bringing in a host of new companies and new partnerships.”

My portfolio picks for 2015 focus on companies that are looking into the future and bringing solutions to market that address the challenges the middle of the bell curve aren’t entirely aware of as yet – or have discounted their solutions too much today. Let’s call it the “Futurist Portfolio” dedicated to the visionaries and implementors, including:

The firm currently has GBX 3,900 ($60.86) price target on the stock, down from their previous price target of GBX 4,350 ($67.88). A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on SAB. Analysts at Beaufort Securities reiterated a buy rating on shares of SABMiller plc in a research note on Friday, November 28th

China became the dominant source of growth in crude-oil demand as it joined the world economy in recent decades. Indeed, Société Générale comments China’s opening to world trade was responsible for lifting the oil price from around $20 a barrel to around $100.

1 Dec 2014

Today, analysts at Bernstein have marked out a few areas where Clark could further expand SABMiller’s soft drinks empire, if the firm was willing to whip out the cheque book.

26 Nov 2014

Analysts are divided on who benefited the most – Steinhoff, Wiese or Brait. Once the intricate deal is done, Steinhoff will have paid R62.8 billion for 92.34% of Pepkor. Pepkor management will own the balance. The devil, as they say, will be in detail. And there is plenty of detail to work through before the deal unfolds towards the end of March 2015

26 Nov 2014

China’s leadership and central bank are ready to cut interest rates again and also loosen lending restrictions, concerned that falling prices could trigger a surge in debt defaults, business failures and job losses, said sources involved in policy-making.

24 Nov 2014