Why The JSE Top 40 Isn’t Telling The Whole Story

Loading player...
The JSE Top 40 may be having a stellar year on paper, but dig deeper and the shine starts to fade, especially if you're looking for signs of real, on-the-ground wealth creation in South Africa.

We speak to The Finance Ghost, a respected retail analyst, to separate index illusion from investment reality. Yes, the JSE Top 40 ETF is up nearly 19% this year—but nearly a third of that performance can be attributed to just a handful of stocks like Naspers, Prosus, and gold miners riding global tailwinds. So what does that really tell us about the South African economy?
28 Jul 2025 12PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Jobs, Pressure Points & Green Shoots in SA

South Africa’s labour market is sending mixed but important signals — and Stats SA’s Acting Deputy Director‑General Solly Molayi joins us to unpack what the latest employment indicators really mean for workers, households, and the broader economy.
7 Apr 3PM 32 min

South Africa’s Real Fuel Crisis: Not Global… Domestic

Diesel is set to jump by over R8/litre and petrol by more than R5 — but fresh analysis by senior macroeconomic analyst, Dr. Dumisani Jantjies, argues the real crisis is homegrown. He joins us to unpack what government could do right now to ease the burden on households and businesses.
7 Apr 3PM 15 min

Women in Science: Africa’s Next Frontier of Innovation

The L’Oréal‑UNESCO For Women in Science Programme marks a major shift by fully integrating South Africa into the Sub‑Saharan Africa cohort. Programme Lead Michelle Gololo discusses the systemic barriers women scientists still face, the impact of supporting 320 African researchers since 2010, and why African-led research is essential for African…
7 Apr 3PM 7 min

Exxaro, Eskom partner on new 17-Year Coal Deal

Exxaro and Eskom have signed a landmark coal supply agreement that secures Matla Power Station’s feedstock until 2043. Exxaro’s Executive Head of Coal, Caroline Shirindza, explains why this deal matters for energy stability, jobs in Mpumalanga, and Eskom’s recovery.
7 Apr 3PM 10 min

South Africa’s Balancing Act: Q2 market outlook

After a brutal March, South Africa enters Q2 with both fragility and promise. MP9 Asset Management CIO Aheesh Singh unpacks global risk-off sentiment, the rand’s sharp depreciation, and why SA assets still offer valuation appeal.
7 Apr 3PM 14 min