The ETF Investor

The SA equity market is dominated by global companies that generate earnings and growth in global markets. To create an investment opportunity focused on the South African economy and consumer – the so-called SA Inc. investment exposure – requires a deliberate and structured rules-based approach beyond market cap.

The investment case for China offers differentiated opportunities to participate in the unique world of the second largest economy in the world. For South African investors there is now a new way of doing so through an actively-managed, multi-asset ETF listed on the JSE, built on a track record of strong market presence in mainland China.

The range of actively-managed ETFs continue to expand, giving investors on the JSE an ever-growing selection of opportunities across asset classes and geographies. The largest private asset manager in South Africa, Ninety One, has listed their first two AMETFs, with promises of more to follow, not just in SA, but perhaps also in their global franchise.

In an investment world dominated by a select number of exceptional companies, the quest for opportunities beyond the Mag-7 requires looking the other way. Closer inspection of the UBS range of index-tracking ETNs reveal some interesting and unique index exposures worth exploring if you are looking for diversification in the highly concentrated AI & Tech mega theme.

In celebration of Women's Month in South Africa, we explore the importance – especially for women – of having an independent financial plan that addresses both the near-term needs of living expenses and unexpected emergencies, and the longer term focus of building sustainable retirement savings and long-term generational wealth. And in all cases – there's an ETF for that!

The 2nd quarter distribution season for ETFs on the JSE has just concluded, with the final payments received by investors in the first week of August. The quarterly ETFSA distribution report consolidates all the relevant information and serves as a reference guide for investors who focus on the yield component of the total return in investments, but also for those who rely on receiving regular income from their investments.

You can trade your view on the gold price with physically-backed gold ETFs, but what about gold miners, gold mining companies? What are the options available to ETF investors? The Satrix RESI ETF, tracking the FTSE/JSE Capped RESI10 Index offers an intriguing opportunity.

After a strong performance in 2024, the demand for gold has accelerated year-to-date, breaking records along the way, and flirting with the $3,000/oz level. What is driving this demand? As an investor in a gold ETF, where is my gold held? And how is its value determined?

2024 has been a stellar year for the ETP industry in South Africa. What stood out for us at ETFSA? Leading into another year of Trump, will it be a bump, or a dump? As ETF investors, we take insights from the past as we strive to thrive in 2025.

EasyETFs, new kid on the block as an ETF issuer, have joined the growing list of actively-managed ETFs on the JSE, but does this make things more complex, or "Easy" for investors? We also revisit its roots in Cloud Atlas and the closure of that chapter.