Book Description

Stock markets are not efficient, returns are incommensurate with risk, investors are irrational, bubbles and crashes recur regularly, analysts are usually wrong, economists even more so, luck is mostly mistaken for skill, myths and misconceptions abound and most of the industry participants are simply noise generators. This is even more true for emerging markets. South Africa can be termed a developed emerging market and is the newest member of the BRICS group. The Effective Investor is the first book to deal specifically with investing in the South African stock market, filling a surprising gap given the widespread interest that has been shown in South Africa as an emerging market and the gateway to the resource-rich African continent. Understanding the South African market provides insight into the paths that emerging and frontier markets will follow in future. While the investment lessons from the South African market outlined in this book are universal, understanding some of its peculiarities is also important. For example, some insight into the behaviour of the currency, the rand, is clearly critical in terms of any investment in this market, as well as in providing some understanding of other volatile emerging market currencies, as well as because it is often treated as the most liquid proxy for these currencies, particularly during upheavals. Similarly, the techniques highlighted in the book for dealing with volatility are applicable to similar markets elsewhere. South Africa is also an attractive market in its own right. It has been the third-best performing stock market in the world since 1900, and has weathered the great financial crisis with flying colors. The book provides readers with the findings of leading-edge research conducted into the South African stock market, the results of which are normally reserved for professional institutions and is written by a practicing, top-rated investment professional. The book also has guest contributions from some of South Africa's most astute professional analysts and fund managers on their specific areas of expertise, providing exceptional insight into current investment thinking. The Effective Investor is essential reading for every potential, novice or professional investor and investment adviser in emerging markets who wants to understand the most important principles of the South African stock market to ensure successful investing.