Investec Focus Radio SA

The US economy is running hot, with the latest indicators pointing to 5% GDP growth, ahead of market forecasts for third-quarter growth of 2.8%. This comes despite high oil prices and rising inflation and has implications for the US dollar and the prospects of the US being able to grow out of its debt problem. Investec Focus Radio SA

South Africa’s digital infrastructure is expanding rapidly, from data centres and fibre networks to satellites. But can the country provide the power, capital and regulatory certainty needed to turn digital investment into lasting growth?



On No Ordinary Wednesday, Jeremy Maggs speaks to Investec CIB’s Louise Pillay, a telecoms and media analyst, and David Abbey, a leveraged finance specialist, about what is driving demand, where the risk of overbuilding lies and what it will take to connect more of the country.

Chapters:

00:00 - Digital infrastructure as a growth engine

01:58 - How digital infrastructure has evolved

03:17 - Coverage versus digital inclusion

04:54 - What is driving demand for data centres and AI infrastructure?

06:08 - Is there a risk of overbuilding?

07:34 - Is grid access the bigger constraint for data centres?

08:45 - Power, water and social licence

10:53 - What makes a digital infrastructure project financeable?

12:04 - Can new rules speed up fibre rollout?

13:34 - Satellite versus fibre and mobile

14:47 - Does satellite change the economics of rural connectivity?

15:42 - How should policymakers regulate competing technologies?

16:38 - Who will fund the next phase of broadband build-out?

17:30 - What could change the outlook for the sector? Investec Focus Radio SA

In conversation with Head of Investec Equity Research Nkateko Mathonsi, former Gold Fields CEO Chris Griffith reflects on the high-stakes decisions that shaped his mining career, from investing through downturns to balancing business survival with its human cost.

In this episode:

00:00: Introduction

01:08: A $1bn ambition for Africa

02:28: From miner to CEO

05:31: Defending mining rights and the rule of law

13:43: The human cost of restructuring

20:48: Yamana: A question of timing

25:07: Balancing growth and shareholder returns

27:38: The people behind an illustrious career

29:42: Doing right when it matters

30:10: Quick-fire questions

30:33: Outro Investec Focus Radio SA

The Fed hiked rates last week amid resilient economic growth and higher inflation, much of it due to higher fuel prices at the pump, while the Bank of Japan also increased borrowing costs, with more likely to come. South Africa’s Reserve Bank is likely to follow suit this week, as inflation expectations remain elevated. Investec Focus Radio SA

Gains by Houthi rebels in recent days have placed further upward pressure on oil prices, with benchmark rates up about 3% on Monday morning, while bond yields have risen since the start of the war. Against this backdrop, the Fed meets this week to decide on interest rates, and, according to Chris Holdsworth, Global Chief Investment Officer, Investec Investment Management, many economists are expecting a hike. Investec Focus Radio SA