Standard Bank/SBG Securities, SA’s top-rated research firm for the fourth consecutive year, has issued a strong call to the post-election government to rebuild the confidence of the private sector, especially the consumer.

This comes as institutional research and broking firms are being squeezed by low liquidity levels and trading volumes as fund managers pare back on their equity holdings, as well as margin compression on commissions as they reduce the number of research houses they use. Fund managers, generally, are “maxed out” on their offshore holdings, because they are restricted by prudential regulations from too great an exposure offshore, in the face of a suppressed economy stunting growth in all business sectors.

Click here for the full report published in the Financial Mail.