As the world shifts towards cashless payment methods, South Africa is gradually moving away from cash against a social and economic backdrop of inequality and slow economic growth.

Taking concepts for granted because they are so obvious and following accounting rules too slavishly can prevent businesses from dealing with the complex, uncertain world in which they exist.

We cannot predict the future, but we can prepare in advance. So how do you develop early warning signs that things are about to change in an industry?

Financial measures such as earnings per share (EPS) are central to many methods of valuing a business. Yet earnings can only tell us so much, particularly when it comes to how a company is allocating its capital.

The terms Bitcoin and blockchain are sometimes used interchangeably, but there’s actually some misunderstanding about the innovation.

Craig Penfold believes that while Bitcoin is restricted to a total of 21 million coins, demand for the cryptocurrency and its price are largely driven by technology, recent moves towards regulation and media events.

No matter who is President, Minister of Finance or SARS Commissioner, the National numbers will be the same at the national budget speech on 21 February 2018. A complete disaster!

Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin may have captured the public’s fancy – and also engendered a healthy dose of skepticism - but it is their underlying technology that is proving to be of practical benefit to organisations: the blockchain.

It is well documented that countries that have a good savings culture tend to be more prosperous than those that don’t, writes Gaye Crossley.

SA has one of the worst savings rates in the world, but this poor savings culture is not only a problem at household level, it is symptomatic of a deeper issue, shows new research conducted into national savings by Investec and GIBS.