The ETF Investor

In this episode we follow on with the theme of episode 20, being ESG ETF investments, by looking at the specific options available to South African investors on the JSE. Sygnia recently listed the third ESG ETF on the JSE – the Sygnia Itrix S&P Global 1200 ESG ETF. How does this differ from the other two options already available?

In this episode we focus on ESG investments, as in Environmental, Social and Governance, and how to get exposure to this strongly growing global trend via ETFs. But what is ESG, other than the clarification of the acronym, and why should you care? Is this a trend that is easily captured in index form, and therefore through an ETF, or is this best left to active investment management?

In this episode, the final one for 2020, we finish off with a nice Christmas bonus for investors in Tesla. The electric vehicle company will be included in the S&P500 index from the start of trading on Monday 21-Dec-2020. We discuss why now, and what this means for investors in S&P500 ETFs.

In this episode we are going back to basics to answer some of the most frequently asked questions. Having said that, even if you are an old hand at ETFs, there may be some new insights for you in this episode, such as investing in cryptocurrencies via ETFs.

In this episode we celebrate the 20th birthday of the ETF industry in South Africa, which was born on the 27th of November 2000 when the Satrix 40 ETF was listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Since then, the industry has seen many firsts, remarkable growth, and broadening opportunity through both the breadth and the depth of the range of products, ETF issuers, investor types and investment s...

In this episode we focus on global bond ETFs, and specifically the six options available on the JSE. This is not intended to be a look at the value proposition of investing in global bonds, but rather a comparative look at the different options, how they differ, and where they are similar.

In this episode we focus on gold investments, and how gold ETFs in particular, give you easy and safe access to the yellow metal whose perceived value dates back at least to Biblical times. For South Africa as a country, an economy, and indeed, a stock market which was built on gold, this is fundamental. Add to this its performance in 2020, and you'll see why this topic is so important and relevan...

In this episode we commemorate Women's Month in South Africa as we celebrate the strength and resilience of women, the rock of our society. The JSE has interesting research that shows that women engage with investor communication more than men, but when it comes to taking action, they tend to fall short of their male counterparts. Some of the key reasons for this difference is sited as the general...

In this episode we shift focus from ETFs, to their lesser known cousins ETNs – Exchange Traded Notes – to see how this type of investment instrument is different from an ETF, and how they are similar. The common denominator here is that they are all traded on an exchange, so the point of access is all the same, but the underlying investment may differ in its construct and the rules and regulations...

In this episode we travel east, to look at the investment opportunity presented by China, the second largest economy in the world, and the most populous nation on the planet. Satrix will be listing the MSCI China ETF on the JSE on the 22nd of July, offering investors access to this exciting global market, locally. We explore what exposure this ETF offers, and how its costs compare to alternatives.

This episode takes a closer look at different fund structures, and how it affects the way in which the assets in the fund underlying the ETF, is managed – we explore the impact it has on costs and tracking error. Whereas the first ETFs were single asset class, and single market investments, this has evolved to include multi-asset class investments and funds covering multiple jurisdictions and geog...

This episode focus on how one can invest in technology, especially in companies that benefit from the increased demand for online and technology solutions in the light of a change in the way we work, play and shop, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. With Wes Hellyar of Moth Innovate.

This episode looks on dividend strategies, how they can be accessed using ETFs, and how they are affected by the wave of dividend deferrals, delays, and even outright cancellations, as companies focus on protecting balance sheets and cash on hand to weather the Covid-19 storm

Satrix lists its 16th ETF on the JSE on Thursday 7 May - the Satrix SA Bond ETF. How is this different from other bond ETFs, including inflation-linked bond ETFs? And what is the outlook for SA bonds post the WGBI exclusion?

In this episode we focus on the Standard Bank Oil ETN to better understand the investment opportunity to get exposure to oil as a commodity. This comes on the back of the historic and unprecedented event of oil prices, and in particular the WTI – the West Texas Intermediate – oil future for May, falling to below zero at the start of this week.

This episode focus on bond indices, how they are constructed, who governs the index rules, and how changes can drive investor demand for specific bonds. There is also specific reference to South Africa being dropped from the FTSE WGBI (World Government Bond Index) at the end of April.

ABSA offers a series of ETFs that assist in managing the volatility of equity investments, something that has suddenly become very pertinent in the dramatic sell-off and swings experienced in markets since late February. How do these work, and how can they benefit you in your portfolio?

Market crises cause anxiety for investors - both retail and professionals - and as much as we cannot control or influence market movements, we can do so with our own reactions to the market turmoil. In this podcast we revisit some rational and prudent investment strategies to help navigate turbulent waters.

The etfSA Investor Hub offers investors who want to manage their own ETF investments, and make their own investment decisions, a fully digital platform to do just that. In this podcast, Mike Brown, MD of etfSA, discusses the rationale of taking over the CoreShares Online platform, with Gareth Stobie, MD of CoreShares.

In this episode we take a closer look at using ETFs in retirement savings, and how you can use it to benefit you now – by saving tax upfront, how the flexibility of it allows you to build up long term savings whenever you earn money, whether from a regular salary or from ad hoc part-time work or from project-based consulting income, and what to do with it when you reach retirement age.

In this first episode of The ETF Investor podcast series, we look at tax-free investments, an opportunity that should be the first investment for any investor. But what is it, who can have one, how do you get involved, and of course, how do you use ETFs in tax-free investments.