By global standards, South African financial markets are well developed, with mature, resilient and stable financial market infrastructures and financial institutions. In addition South Africa has independent regulatory authorities and policymakers that are targeting a financial sector regulatory framework that complies with international good practice. Understanding South African Financial Markets provides a clear, well-structured guide to South Africa’s dynamic and sophisticated financial market environment, comprehensively dealing with many complex topics and striving to bring the reader up to speed with the latest financial market developments.

Understanding South African Financial Markets has been compiled by practitioners from the financial markets and experienced faculty members in economics and financial management. Jargon that may be unfamiliar is explained in lay terms, and both international and local market practices and norms are discussed where relevant.

Contents include the following:

• Fundamentals of the financial system
• The South African Reserve Bank
• Banks
• Microfinance institutions
• Insurers
• Retirement funds
• Investment institutions
• Regulation of the financial markets
• Financial market terminology and technicalities
• The markets in major established asset classes such as equity, money market, derivatives, bonds, foreign exchange, and commodities
• The market in emerging and volatile crypto assets
• Financial Technology (Fintech) and its significance for the financial sector
• The impact of taxation on investment returns