Covid-19 Business Watch: The week in perspective

In a week where lost babies and lost iPads seemed to drown out another step in the right direction along the road of structural reform, some policy signals remain mixed. The establishment of the Transnet National Ports Authority as an independent subsidiary of Transnet. But some obvious questions remain about what independent means in this context. Gauteng's Covid 3rd wave is more tsunami as the provinces largest public hospital remains closed. And globally markets breathed a sigh of relief following last week's mini taper tantrum and overnight the positive news of Biden's infrastructure bill receiving bipartisan support all add up to an interesting mix of events for business to digest. It feels risk on out there but the only major indicator that didn't play ball is the US 10-year yield that is struggling to push above the 1.5% level and had plenty of reason to do so given the bipartisan agreement to push ahead with a $580bn infrastructure bill. To put things into perspective Michael Avery is joined by Warwick Lucas Chief Investment Officer at Galile​o Asset Managers; Raymond Parsons, professor in the School of Business and Governance at Northwest University & Isaah Mhlanga, Chief Economist at Alexander Forbes