The news that moves markets.
Markets, the economy and the regulation that shapes your money — covered as it happens by the Mosaic newsroom.
Original analysis from the Mosaic specialists.
Updated as new articles publish.
Treasury targets 2026 single administrator for unclaimed assets to speed owner tracing
The National Treasury proposes a framework to centralise unclaimed financial assets in South Africa by 2026. The plan aims to consolidate existing unclaimed assets under a single administrator to improve tracing owners, streamline claims processing and enhance transparency. Details on governance, timelines and stakehol
-
Financial News
Treasury floats single national hub for South Africa’s unclaimed financial assets
National Treasury of South Africa has released a discussion paper proposing centralisation of unclaimed financial assets into a single national mechanism. The paper seeks views on design, governance, transfer processes and safeguards for consolidating assets held by banks, insurers, retirement funds and others.
-
Financial News
Minister Meth signals tougher enforcement of South African labour laws, warns employers to comply
Minister of Employment and Labour Nomakhosazana Meth said the labour laws of the Republic of South Africa are mandatory and must be complied with, emphasising enforcement and adherence by employers and employees.
-
Financial News
HSBC’s half-year numbers land: did earnings hold up and what’s the dividend signal?
The company published interim financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. The announcement presents performance measures and may include income, expenses, profit or loss, and other relevant interim disclosures for that period.
-
Financial News
Johannesburg wipes out R5.25bn Eskom arrears, ending dispute with the utility
State-owned power utility Eskom says the City of Johannesburg has settled in full a R5.25 billion overdue electricity debt. The payment clears the outstanding balance owed to Eskom and resolves the dispute between the municipality and the utility.
-
Financial News
Eskom’s weekly energy availability climbs to 72.56% as outages ease, seven provinces off cut list
State power utility Eskom says its weekly energy availability factor reached 72.56 percent, outage levels fell sharply and the impact of load reductions dropped to 6.8 percent. Seven provinces have been removed from the scheduled load reduction plan as supply constraints ease.
-
Financial News
Africa’s payments grid is knitting together, but currencies keep cross‑border flows tethered
African countries are progressing on a unified payments market, but more than 40 national currencies, many not directly convertible, mean cross-border transfers still depend on settlement banks and pre-funded accounts to move funds between markets.
-
Financial News
Absa’s digital personal and private banking users up 14% to 5.4m; tech spend rises 7% to R8.8bn
Absa reported a 14% year‑on‑year increase in active digital customers in personal and private banking to 5.4 million for the six months to end‑June. South Africa grew 10% and other African regions 21%, driven by digital onboarding and app upgrades. Information technology related costs rose 7% to R8.8 billion.
-
Financial News
HSBC’s H1 2026 results put global bank earnings and Asia exposure under the spotlight
The company released its interim financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. The announcement covers performance metrics and financial position for the period and provides figures and commentary on operations and outcomes for the half year.
-
Financial News
‘0005’ back on the board: HSBC trading resumes on Hong Kong Stock Exchange after suspension
The Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited has announced the resumption of trading in the shares of a listed company following a prior suspension. The exchange notice confirms conditions for resumption have been met and trading will continue under normal market rules. No further company details were provided in the n
-
Financial News
Eskom bans 101 suppliers for up to 10 years, raising procurement and delivery risks
State-owned power utility Eskom says a disciplinary process has led to 101 suppliers being restricted from doing business with the company for periods of up to 10 years. The action follows investigations into supplier conduct; Eskom did not disclose full details for each supplier in the announcement.
-
Financial News
Treasury moves to centralise unclaimed assets in a single national fund
National Treasury of South Africa published a discussion paper proposing centralisation of unclaimed financial assets into a single national fund and mechanisms for identification, reporting and transfer from financial institutions. The paper invites stakeholder comment and outlines potential legal, operational and gov
-
Financial News
Treasury outlines plan to centralise unclaimed financial assets in a single national repository
The National Treasury published a framework proposing a central register and processes to consolidate unclaimed financial assets held by banks, insurers, retirement funds and other institutions into a single national repository. The proposal covers identification, transfer, claims procedures and governance to improve r
-
Financial News
Employment Laws Amendment Bill would widen harassment protections, tighten employer duties
The Department of Employment and Labour says the Employment Laws Amendment Bill would extend legal protections for employees to cover all forms of harassment in the workplace, not only sexual harassment. The bill aims to strengthen employer responsibilities and remedies for victims, and to clarify definitions and proce
-
Financial News
PayInc to assume key payment-system management roles from Payments Association of South Africa
PayInc will assume specific payment system management functions previously overseen by the Payments Association of South Africa. The transfer is being carried out in collaboration with the South African Reserve Bank, the Payments Association of South Africa and industry participants as part of an ongoing evolution of t
-
Financial News
HSBC (HKEX:0005) maps out concrete steps and milestones to lift auditor disclaimer of opinion
The company provides a voluntary update on its action plans to resolve an auditor disclaimer of opinion. It outlines implementation steps, progress milestones and further measures to address the issues raised by auditors and restore reliance on its financial statements.
-
Financial News
HSBC’s mid-year results land without guidance as rates pivot and China risks loom
The company released its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. The announcement presents financial and operational performance for the period but includes no forward guidance or management commentary in the excerpt provided.
-
Financial News
South Africa’s consumer inflation eases to 4.3% in July, nearing target midpoint
Headline consumer inflation fell to 4.3% year on year in July 2026 from 5.0% in June, with a monthly Consumer Price Index increase of 0.2%. The slowdown was driven by weaker food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation, smaller municipal tariff rises and lower fuel prices.
-
Financial News
HSBC’s half-year scorecard tests whether Asia still drives earnings as rates bite
Company released interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. The announcement presents financial performance and operating highlights for the period and may include comparative figures, management commentary and key metrics; no actions or guidance are specified in the excerpt provided.
-
Financial News
Fed minutes lay out split views on inflation and jobs, keeping path of rates data‑dependent
The United States Federal Reserve released the minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting held on July 28–29, 2026. The document records participants’ discussion of recent economic data, inflation, labour market conditions and monetary policy options considered at that meeting.
-
Financial News
South Africa tightens Basic Conditions of Employment Act to curb disguised employment
The Department of Employment and Labour announced amendments to the Basic Conditions of Employment Act to address disguised employment practices. Changes aim to clarify employment status, strengthen enforcement and protect worker rights by preventing misuse of contracts to avoid obligations. The department emphasised c
-
Financial News
HSBC posts first‑half 2026 results, sets out earnings, costs and credit trends
Company released interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. Announcement presents financial performance and operational highlights for the period and may include earnings, revenue, segment results and other material information.
-
Financial News
African Growth and Opportunity Act extension welcomed but United States Section 232 steel duty remains obstacl
The African Growth and Opportunity Act extension provides continued preferential access for eligible South African exports to the United States market. However, the United States Section 232 tariff on steel imports remains in place, continuing to affect South African steel exporters and complicating trade benefits from
-
Financial News
SARS opens consultation on digital VAT model to modernise collection and curb fraud
The South African Revenue Service is inviting public comment on a proposed digital value-added tax model intended to modernise value-added tax administration, improve compliance and reduce fraud. Details on the model, consultation process and submission deadlines were provided in the invitation.
-
Financial News
Treasury opens fiscal strategy consultations, sets timeline that could shape budgets and borrowing
The National Treasury announced an update on its public engagement process for reviewing the country's fiscal strategy. The statement outlines opportunities for public input, timelines for consultations and next steps in formulating fiscal policy recommendations, aiming to enhance transparency and stakeholder participa
-
Financial News
Nvidia 8‑K flags new binding deal, fresh financial obligations and a Regulation FD disclosure
NVIDIA Corporation filed a Form 8-K reporting: entry into a material definitive agreement; creation of a direct financial obligation or an off-balance-sheet obligation; and Regulation Fair Disclosure (Regulation FD) public disclosure. Filing dated 17 August 2026.
-
Financial News
ECB’s Lane flags near-term boost, longer-term inflation risk from higher euro defence outlays
Philip R. Lane, Chief Economist of the European Central Bank, outlined how rising defence spending across euro area countries will affect public finances, aggregate demand, inflation and monetary policy. He noted near-term demand support but potential long-term trade-offs for public debt, investment and inflation dynam
-
Financial News
Interim results announced for six months to 30 June 2026
The company announced interim financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. The announcement presents the company’s unaudited performance and key financial metrics for the period and may include commentary from management and comparisons with prior periods.
-
Financial News
Hong Kong-listed company announces interim results for six months to 30 June 2026
The company released its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. The announcement provides financial performance, operational highlights and changes in key metrics for the period, and may include comparative figures and management commentary in the full report.
-
Financial News
Eskom’s energy availability rises to six‑year high as outages ease and load reduction shrinks
Eskom says its energy availability factor reached 67.55%, the highest in six years. Unplanned outages were nearly halved year‑on‑year. Customers affected by load reduction fell to 6.8%. The Eastern Cape has been removed from the rotational supply schedule, becoming the seventh province to be taken off the schedule.
-
Financial News
Cross-border payments near US$250trn by 2030, but fractured systems now the top brake on growth
Cross-border payments, forecast to top US$250 trillion by 2030, face a larger obstacle from lack of interoperability between payment systems, regulators and standards than from technology. The finding references the 2020 G20 Roadmap for Enhancing Cross-Border Payments and highlights coordination challenges among stakeh
-
Financial News
SARB to take over payment system management; remaining duties move to PayInc by early September
The South African Reserve Bank will take over management functions for the national payment system previously held by the Payment Association of South Africa. Some functions will be performed directly by the reserve bank and the remaining functions will transfer to PayInc (BankservAfrica) by early September. The announ
-
Financial News
BankservAfrica: instant-payments growth needs mandates, near‑zero pricing and merchant pull
BankservAfrica says instant payment systems are expanding rapidly globally, but adoption depends more on mandated bank participation, near-zero user pricing and strong merchant demand than on technology alone. Markets lacking this policy mix, such as Mexico and the United States, show slower uptake despite available in
-
Financial News
Standard Bank uses 20-country footprint to chase bigger slice of Africa’s digital payments
Standard Bank, Africa's largest bank by assets, aims to increase its share of the continent's digital payments flows by leveraging rising transaction volumes, expanded digital banking services and investments in technology to capture growing electronic payment activity.
-
Financial News
Violent bank crime plunges as fraud shifts online, with claims hitting R2.4bn
South African banks reported just two branch robberies in 2025, down from eight in 2024. Automated teller machine bombings fell 58% and cash losses from such attacks dropped 63%. Meanwhile digital banking fraud claims increased 29.2% to 2.4 billion rand across 110,074 cases, largely driven by scams on banking applicati
-
Financial News
HSBC flags higher profit in preliminary alert, details to follow
The company issued a profit warning update indicating likely higher profit for the period compared with the prior year. No specific figures or causes were provided in the excerpt. The announcement is based on preliminary assessment and is subject to final results.
-
Financial News
Statistics South Africa: Women face higher unemployment and lower participation in Q2 2026 labour market
Statistics South Africa’s Quarterly Labour Force Survey for quarter two 2026 shows persistent gender gaps: women made up 50.3% of the 15–64 population but had a 37.5% official unemployment rate versus 30.3% for men. Women’s labour force participation was 54.9% (men 64.4%) and absorption into employment 34.3% (men 44.9%
-
Financial News
Exxaro flags 18–23% drop in H1 2026 headline and attributable earnings on weaker associate income
Exxaro Resources expects headline earnings per share and attributable earnings per share for the six months to 30 June 2026 to fall by 18%–23% versus the prior period, mainly due to lower equity-accounted income from Sishen Iron Ore Company Proprietary Limited and Black Mountain Mining Proprietary Limited. Sishen was i
-
Financial News
AngloGold Ashanti confirms rand conversion and finalises interim dividend payment dates
AngloGold Ashanti plc confirms currency conversion for its interim dividend of 72 US cents per share for the quarter to 30 June 2026. Using the Reuters New York Bid Closing Rate of 16.14390 on 12 August 2026, the gross dividend for South African register holders is 1,162.36080 South African cents per share and net 929.
-
Financial News
Expanded collaboration with Uber to deploy over 2,000 robotaxis across five European cities
Autonomous vehicle company announced an expanded collaboration with Uber Technologies Inc to deploy more than 2,000 robotaxis across five cities in Europe. The deployment will be phased and subject to regulatory approvals and local permits. No financial terms were disclosed.
-
Financial News
0005 halted: Hong Kong stops trading in HSBC shares with no reason or timeline
The Hong Kong Stock Exchange issued a notice that trading in the securities of a listed issuer has been suspended. The exchange did not provide further details on the reason, duration or conditions for resumption in the notice excerpt provided.
-
Financial News
Reinet seeks nod for €250m seventh buyback on JSE, targeting up to 8m shares in late 2026
Reinet Investments S.C.A. proposes a seventh share buyback, conditional on shareholder approval at the 13 August 2026 annual general meeting. If approved, it will repurchase up to €250 million or 8 million ordinary shares between 18 August and 15 December 2026 on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Limits include a maximu
-
Financial News
HSBC’s H1 2026 filing puts profit mix, credit costs and capital signals under the microscope
The company released its unaudited interim financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. The announcement presents financial performance and operational highlights for the period; detailed figures, commentary and comparisons to prior periods were included in the full announcement on the exchange.
-
Financial News
NEPI Rockcastle enters Spain with €254m deal for Bilbao’s MegaPark Barakaldo
NEPI Rockcastle will acquire MegaPark Barakaldo in Bilbao from HLRE Socimi for a gross €254 million (net €252 million), expanding into Spain — its first investment outside Central and Eastern Europe. The c.81,000 square metre complex is 97.3% occupied, had 12.75 million visits in 2025 and generated tenant sales over €1
-
Financial News
R26.1bn headline earnings up 10% at Standard Bank; interim dividend lifted 10% to 902c
For the six months to 30 June 2026, Standard Bank Group reported headline earnings up 10% to R26.1 billion and headline earnings per ordinary share up 10% to 1 609.8 cents. Return on equity improved to 19.8%. The board approved an interim dividend of 902 cents per ordinary share, a 10% increase and a 56% payout ratio.
-
Financial News
Company confirms court-ordered winding-up, appoints liquidators; trading still frozen with no timeline
The company issued a supplemental announcement updating prior resumption guidance and confirming a winding-up petition and subsequent winding-up order. Joint official liquidators have been appointed and trading in the company’s securities remains suspended. No timetable for resumption of trading was provided.
-
Financial News
Eskom races to restore power after storms, testing a fragile distribution network
State-owned power utility Eskom said it has deployed additional personnel, equipment and repair teams to restore electricity supply safely following severe weather disruptions across several South African provinces. The company is prioritising safety and rapid repairs while assessing damage and coordinating with local
-
Financial News
Resilient REIT lifts interim dividend 11.7% to 274.38c as SA net property income grows
Resilient Real Estate Investment Trust declared an interim dividend of 274,38 cents per share, up 11,7% year-on-year, for the six months to 30 June 2026. South African net property income rose 6,0% like-for-like; group benefited from lower interest rates and favourable forward exchange rates on offshore earnings. Net a
Where to next on Mosaic Adviser
Browse the rest of the desk — every section refreshes as new analysis publishes.
-
Mosaic Adviser
Family Office
Wealth, succession and the long view across generations.
Read Family Office -
Mosaic Adviser
Accounting
Statements, statutory compliance and the bookkeeping craft.
Read Accounting -
Mosaic Adviser
Payroll
PAYE, UIF, SDL and the legislation that lands every month.
Read Payroll -
Mosaic Adviser
Personal Finance
Saving, tax and the day-to-day money decisions that compound.
Read Personal Finance -
All sections
The Mosaic Adviser desk
The full river — every published article, newest first.
Visit the homepage