This booklet is about the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). Workers are directly or indirectly affected by what happens at the JSE. There are many workers at companies which are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The bosses of some of these companies are encouraging workers to own shares in these companies. Some workers already own shares in the companies where they work. Workers’ pension and provident funds are being invested on the stock exchange. These issues have raised questions among workers about what shares are, how they make money and where they are traded. This pamphlet addresses some of these questions. It focuses mainly on what the stock exchange is, how it works and what role it plays in the economy. Because workers are also thinking about how the present South African economy can be restructured, the pamphlet also raises a few questions for discussion on the role of the JSE in a future economy.

The underpricing of initial public offerings (IPOs) and their subsequent low long-run performance represents one of the anomalies observed in primary markets worldwide. However, the depth and breadth of it varies from country to country, and sector to sector. Literature has documented that the phenomenon surrounding the long-run post issue performance of IPOs is not unique and that quite similar patterns can be found regarding firms making seasoned equity offerings (SEOs). This study is an empirical analysis of public equity offerings listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). Using data for 141 South African IPOs that were listed on the JSE Mainboard from 2001 to 2010, significant short-run underpricing is found. A sector wise analysis of three broad sectors indicated that the ‘other’ sector had the largest IPO underpricing after the first few days of trading. The year-wise analysis is also documented. In the long-run this study showed that IPOs in South Africa underperformed two out of three benchmarks in 36 full months post listing. In contrast, using data for 50 South African SEOs during 2003 to 2010, superior SEO performance is found over a 36-month period when assessed using a size and industry adjusted benchmark. Various cross-sectional and time-series patterns in the aftermarket performance of IPO and SEO firms are also documented

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research report investigates the history and current status of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Alternative Exchange and its performance over time. The focus is on comparing the AltX with the JSE Main Board, the JSE top 40, The JSE Small Cap Index and London’s Alternative Investments Market AIM. The different listing requirements and the JSE Main Board will be explored. It then goes further to compare the performance of the JSE with that of AltX and AIM over time. A comparison between listings and de-listings is drawn between the AltX and the JSE Main Board. Complete risk analysis is then conducted in an attempt to compare the risk of listing on AltX, JSE and AIM and determine whether the AltX holds more risk than the other exchanges given its relaxed listing requirements and market sentiment around AltX. In comparing risk analysis with market sentiment as well as actual results, it can be concluded that AltXwhen analysed using beta; standard deviation; maximum draw down; Value at Risk; and the Sharpe ratio, does not carry significantly more risk than the JSE Main Board or AIM. The AltXdoes meet its requirements and is doing what it is designed to do, namely offering an opportunity for small and medium sized companies to raise capital and providing investors with the opportunity to become shareholder and trade in those shares as well as being a spring board to the JSE Main Board, but that moving to the Main Board does not always create more value for shareholders or has a positive influence on share price or liquidity.This brings the conclusion that company performance is still based on the individual performance of the company and not dependant on where the company is listed.

M.Comm. / Stock Exchange as an instrument for the financing of South African industry. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange, like all stock exchanges in the world, has as main functions, firstly, the raising of capital for industry and secondly, the provision of a market for the trading of financial paper. As such, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange is of vital relevance for the national economy. It has implications for the formation and flow of capital and therefore the functioning of savings and investment industry of the country. The channelling of savings into industry, green field projects, the provision of housing, education and health care, as well as the development of the infrastructure, are all affected by the workings of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange is the largest stock exchange on the African continent, having a market capitalisation of R919 803 million in 1994. This, however, does not mean that the Stock Exchange performs its function as an instrument for the financing of South African industry effectively. The Stock Exchange is known for its high level of illiquidity with only six percent of the shares listed on it being traded on an annual basis. The shares that are traded regularly are restricted to the 30 - 50 prime shares which are held mainly by the large institutional investors and the mining houses. A study of the owners of shares listed on the Stock Exchange shows a large concentration of control and ownership in the hands of only three institutions, namely, the Anglo-American group of companies and the two large insurance companies Old Mutual and Sanlam. Research has shown that as many as 65 percent of the shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange are owned by only 1 200 shareholders and that there are not more than 750 000 South Africans who are shareholders, representing less than four percent of the South African population. Participation in the activities of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange by the small investor has declined continuously over the last two to three decades. The decline in small investor presence in the market deprives the Development Capital Market and the Venture Capital Market of financing. New capital raised on the Stock Exchange amounts to an average of around R12 billion per year. The funds raised are mainly attributed to the selling of the paper of gilt-edged companies. The so-called second rated companies, which comprise 80 percent of the market, do not enjoy the share turnover rates that the gilt-edged companies do. The shares of the second raters comprise less than 10 percent of the turnover on the market. The shares of the second raters are not only traded in relatively small volumes but they are also traded rather sporadically. This poor performance of the Stock Exchange as a primary capital market compel the smaller companies to seek financing elsewhere. Such financing is almost always more expensive than equity financing. The high costs involved in obtaining a listing on the Stock Exchange is another factor that may encourage smaller businesses to obtain their financing from financial institutions rather then from the Stock Exchange. South Africa has now entered a new phase of socio-economic development on account of the revised political dispensation and becoming a full member of the international community once again. These changes have once again placed South Africa on the world map as a venue for investment. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange could play a very important role in this respect. It will, however, have to become a more active market. The financing of South Africa's industry cannot rely mainly on foreign investment, it must generate more domestic financial support. The Johannesburg Stock Exchange is an ideal institution to perform such a function. The Stock Exchange will, however, have to create a more liquid market by increasing turnover to a level more in line with those of stock exchanges elsewhere in the world. Such an achievement will add significantly to the pool of funds available for the financing of the South African industry.

This study sought to empirically investigate the existence of calendar effects and market anomalies on the JSE using monthly and daily closing prices of the ALSI, Top 40, Mid Cap and Small Cap index; as well as, daily closing prices on the Value, Growth and Dividend Plus index during the sample period 2002 – 2013. The anomalies analysed are the January effect, the weekend effect, the size effect, the value effect, and the dividend yield effect. The empirical analysis uses a number of MSAR with a different number of regimes and lag orders. The results from the investigation of the January effect show the non-existence of the January effect and the value effect on the JSE during the periods 2002 – 2013 and 2004 – 2013, respectively. However, the weekend effect was found significant in the Mid Cap and the Small Cap index, and the size effect was also found significant during the same period 2002 - 2013. Finally the results from a Granger causality test concluded that there is a relationship between the returns on the Dividend Plus index and the ALSI, effectively proving the existence of the dividend yield effect on the JSE between 2006 and 2013. Additionally, the anomalies found imply the opportunity for investors to make returns above buy-and-hold.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / This research report examines the dispersal of information into the share market. According to the efficient market hypothesis, the share price always reflects all available information on a company. This information is incorporated into the share price via heterogeneous trader interaction: a transaction between a willing buyer and a willing seller sets the latest share price. Therefore, the dispersal of information is a dynamic process. This process has been modelled with a newly developed micro-economic, stochastic, dynamic model for share price based on trader interaction. The model has been implemented as a Monte Carlo simulation with several supporting metrics to assess simulation results. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to validate the model and to examine the dispersal and value of information. Key findings are that trader interaction is a dominant effect in both the dispersal of information and portfolio performance; technical trading, i.e. trading on only past share price information, can be beneficial under certain conditions; technical trading causes the share price to increase significantly compared to rational trading; information is more valuable for fast changing markets and small companies. The findings from Monte Carlo simulation have been compared with sectors of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and advice is provided with regards to the value of information per sector.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Pension funds are large institutional investors in South Africa and hold some of the highest levels of investment, relative to gross domestic product, in the world. The South African stock market is also the largest stock market in Africa. Research has shown that pension funds can play an important role in developing stock markets. This assignment investigated the impact that pension fund investment has had on the development of the South African stock market. This question is particularly relevant in the light of the changing domestic pension policy environment and the need to better develop stock markets in Southern Africa and globally to generate economic growth. The Johansen cointegration approach was applied to evaluate the impact of pension funds on the development of the South African stock market. Stock market development was measured by its depth or market capitalisation, liquidity and volatility. The analysis shows that South African pension funds have improved the liquidity and reduced the volatility of the stock market. Pension fund investment in shares increased market capitalisation, while market capitalisation was reduced when the prime lending rate was included as a control variable. Total pension fund investment decreased market capitalisation, probably through the impact of interest rates on interest-bearing assets held in the portfolio.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg 2014. / The application of agent based modelling in nance allows market experiments to be undertaken which would normally be prohibitive due to cost, complexity and other factors. Agent based models use simple behaviour and interaction to produce complex outcomes. We introduce the requirements of an agent based market simulator based on protocol stipulated by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The requirements are then translated into a technical design. This design is implemented using the Microsoft .NET framework. The product of this design and creation approach is a market simulator which is then used to run three simulations where different agent behaviour is demonstrated. The approach and results of the simulations are documented to show possible use cases of the simulator.

Director interlocks have concerned shareholders, the public and legislators since the early 1900’s. In 1914 the Clayton Act prohibited interlocking directorates among competing corporations in the USA. Research has been performed since the 1930’s covering stock exchanges around the world, however very little information was available concerning director interlocks in South Africa. This paper analysed interlocking directorships of the Top 40 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange using key metrics as per Newman and Conyon’s Small World theory, comparing the results to research on Italian, French, German, UK and US companies performed in 2008 by Santella, Drago, Polo and Gagliardi. South Africa was found to be closest to Italy, between the low density models (UK and US) and the significantly higher density models (Germany and France), suggesting that rather than just the two camps, there is a continuum currently reflected as the UK, US, South Africa, Italy, France and Germany. The presence of directors with multiple directorships and having significant influence in the network suggests systemic collusion is possible. Analysis performed on the composition of JSE boards showed that many of the King III Code requirements (presence of Non-Executive Directors, split of Chairman from Chief Executive amongst others) are met while some, such as the annual rotation of one third of directors and the independence of directors is problematic. There is still much that can be learned through enhancing the research coverage to provide a factual basis for understanding the impact of legislation and governance codes on the South African network, as well as to perform holistic research covering the combined network formed by board on exchanges across the globe. / Thesis (MBA)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

This paper examines bubbles on the JSE All Share Index as well as the critical time of the stock market crash from 2/01/ 2004 – 27/03/2014. The underlying hypothesis define bubbles as extreme and begin as a group of small events which grow in a super exponential form explained by a log periodic power law model (LPPL model). The hypothesis is based on the assumption of investors’ herding behavior, where investors collude by making investment decision correlated with their counterparties. The paper implements a Savitzky Golary Algorithm to detect peaks and calculate the critical time of the crash from the peaks. An Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method is used to determine both the value of stock market price index at the critical time and the increase in the stock market price index over the time before the crash. The remaining parameters of the LPPL model are estimated using a Maximum Likelihood Estimation method. On the empirical results; 68 peaks were detected, and the LPPL model at the critical crash time is estimated 34736.586. Five bubbles are detected; the 15/8/2005 bubble, 28/5/2013 bubble, 23/8/2013 bubble, 5/11/2013, and 1/20/2014.