In episode one of Inside Investing we investigate the investment appeal of fallen angel Aspen; offer a view after annual results were released by Discovery, one of the Biznews portfolio’s top performing stocks; hear from Cemair’s Miles vd Molen about the impact of South Africa re-opening its borders; look at the appeal – or lack of – in SA banking stocks; and in our education slot, we learn from Dr Richard Smith how to turn investment cycles to advantage.

In today’s news headlines:

- The repo rate remains unchanged at 3.5%;

- Woolworths reports a 65% slump in earnings;

- Creditors to meet over missing SAA funds; and

- The Foschini Group will take over Jet stores.

Aspen Pharmacare has been through a difficult phase of restructuring but the pharmaceutical giant is in great shape, especially with the latest sale of its thrombosis unit to Mylan. With Covid-19 wreaking havoc, Aspen is also in a great position with the production and distribution of the life-saving drug Dexamethasone. BizNews founder Alec Hogg was joined by CEO Stephen Saad during his Rational Radio webinar to discuss Aspen's excellent preliminary results as well as his desire to take Aspen further into vaccine territory. Market commentator David Shapiro and Adrian Saville of Cannon Asset Managers also joined the fascinating discussion.

The Covid pandemic may seem to be on the decline in South Africa, but that doesn't mean that we can't protect or shouldn't be protecting ourselves. Shout4Masks is an initiative which was put together by celebrities Danny K and Kabelo Mabalane. Here, we speak to Danny K and James Vos, the head of Vitality Strategic Programmes.

In this episode: SA restrictions lift to level one. BizNews founder Alec Hogg interviews Discovery SA's chief executive officer Hylton Kallner, after the company’s financial results presentation. Veteran broadcaster Tim Modise speaks to Dr Jonathan Witt, a South African medical professional who argues that governments around the world, including South Africa, got it wrong in implementing ‘hard lockdowns’ against the Covid-19. And, BizNews reporter Linda van Tilburg picks up with tourism experts on what the government can do to kickstart that all-important sector of the economy.

President Ramaphosa has announced the easing of South Africa’s lockdown to level 1, effective from Sunday, 20th September. Listen to the highlights of his speech here.

In today’s news headlines:

- The Foschini Group’s share price fell by 5%;

- Shares in Discovery fell 3% following the earnings announcement; and

- South Africa moves to alert level 1 from 20 September.

Listen to the full details of South Africa's move to lockdown level 1, as explained by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Among the moves designed to kickstart economic growth: an easing of travel restrictions, including international air travel, and larger gatherings will be allowed. But masks will remain compulsory and the president has urged all South Africans to do the Jerusalema to change the mood in the country after a prolonged period under strict rules to curb the spread of Covid-19.

In Episode Four our guest is a lad from Kensington in London whose chance meeting with a lass sitting on a wall in Cornwall sent him on an adventure that was to have a massive impact on South Africa’s peaceful transition. Until fate intervened, the highlight of Clem Sunter’s life had been playing on the undercard of a Rolling Stones concert at Oxford University as one half a folk music duo called Clem and John. Like other guests on this show, Clem was selected on the basis that if his story were captured in book form, it would likely be a bestseller. The only surprise is why South Africa’s most famous futurist hasn’t written that autobiography already. Because apart from his other attributes Clem Sunter is also a prodigious writer, having produced 17 books, the most recent of which refer to how we can all learn from foxes, that most adaptable of animals.

FirstRand reported a 38% drop in normalised profit for the year earlier this month. Hundreds of South Africans have been drowning in unpaid bills thanks to a harsh lockdown which caused many to lose their jobs or take pay cuts. As a result, the group increased provisions to cover bad debts relating to Covid-19 by over R15bn. It has since written off over R24bn in bad-debt credit impairments. It's not the only South African bank to feel the effects of Covid. In a Rational Radio webinar, BizNews founder Alec Hogg is joined by South Africa's favourite market commentator David Shapiro and chief executive at Cannon Asset Managers Adrian Saville to discuss the issues surrounding South African bank shares.