Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis examines the effect of liquidity on excess stock returns on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) over the period 2003 to 2011. It builds on the findings of previous studies that found size, value and momentum effects to be significant in explaining market anomalies by adding a further explanatory factor, namely liquidity. A standard CAPM, as well as a momentum-augmented Fama-French (1993: 3) model are employed to perform regression analyses to examine the effect of the four variables on excess stock returns. Results suggested that the log of the stock‘s market value best captured the size effect, the earnings yield best captured the value effect and the previous three month‘s returns best captured the momentum effect. Five liquidity proxies are used: the bid-ask spread first proposed by Amihud (1986: 223), turnover, the price impact measure of Amihud (2002: 31) and two zero return measures proposed by Lesmond et al. (1999: 1113). Despite prior studies having found liquidity to be an influential factor, this thesis found the opposite to be true. This finding remains robust, irrespective of the type of liquidity measure used. While size, value and momentum are found to be significant to a certain extent in explaining excess stock returns over the period, liquidity is not found to be significant. This is a surprising result, given that the JSE is seen as an emerging market, which is generally regarded as illiquid. This fact is exacerbated by the fact that the JSE is a highly concentrated and therefore skewed market that is dominated by only a handful of shares. Hence liquidity is expected to be of utmost importance. The result that liquidity is however not a priced factor on this market is therefore an important finding that requires further analysis to determine why this is the case. In addition, significant non-zero intercepts remained, indicating continued missing risk factors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis word die effek van likiditeit op oormaat aandeel-opbrengste op die Johannesburg Effektebeurs (JEB) ondersoek gedurende die periode 2003 tot 2011. Dit bou voort op die bevindinge van vorige studies wat toon dat grootte, waarde en momentum beduidend is in die verklaring van mark onreëlmatighede deur 'n addisionele verklarende faktor, likiditeit, toe te voeg. 'n Standaard kapitaalbateprysingsmodel (KBPM) sowel as 'n momentum-aangepaste Fama-French (1993: 3) model word gebruik om deur middel van regressie analise die effek van die vier veranderlikes op oormaat aandeel-opbrengste te ondersoek. Die resultate toon dat die grootte effek die beste verteenwoordig word deur die logaritme van die aandeel se mark kapitalisasie, die verdienste-opbrengs verteenwoordig die waarde effek en die vorige drie-maande opbrengskoerse verteenwoordig die momentum effek die beste. Vyf likiditeitsveranderlikes is gebruik: bod-en-aanbod spreiding voorgestel deur Amihud (1986: 223), omset, die prys-impak maatstaf van Amihud (2002: 31) en twee nul-opbrengskoers maatstawwe voorgestel deur Lesmond et al. (1999: 1113). Afgesien van die feit dat vorige studies die effek van likiditeit beduidend vind, word die teenoorgestelde in hierdie tesis gevind. Hierdie bevinding bly robuus, ongeag van die likiditeitsveranderlike wat gebruik word. Terwyl bevind is dat grootte, waarde en momentum beduidend is tot 'n sekere mate in die verklaring van oormaat aandeel-opbrengste tydens die periode, is geen aanduiding dat likiditeit 'n addisionele beduidende verklarende faktor is gevind nie. Hierdie bevinding is onverwags, aangesien die JEB beskou word as 'n ontluikende mark, wat normaalweg illikied is. Hierdie feit word vererger deur dat die JEB hoogs gekonsentreerd is en dus 'n skewe mark is wat oorheers word deur slegs 'n hand vol aandele. Dus word verwag dat likiditeit 'n baie belangrike faktor behoort te wees. Die bevinding dat likiditeit nie 'n prysingsfaktor op hierdie mark is nie, is dus 'n belangrike bevinding en vereis verdere analise om vas te stel waarom dit die geval is. Addisioneel word beduidende nie-nul afsnitte verkry, wat aandui dat daar steeds risiko faktore is wat nog nie geïdentifiseer is nie.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the study is to establish a fault bank that highlights the differences between the published Value Added Statement of various companies and a standardised Value Added Statement. This standardised Value Added Statement is obtained from an already existing database. In the attached Appendices, full details of the analysis done between the standardised Value Added Statement and the published Value Added Statement are presented. This report highlights the differences of the Value Added Statement between various sectors of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the various years of reporting, and the various companies. No Standard Accounting Practice exists for the preparation of Value Added Statements resulting in variations on the theme. Material differences exist between the various sectors, companies in a sector compared with other companies in the same sector, and there are even differences in companies reporting from one year to the next. In addition, it is also clear that in the reporting of the Value Added Statement, companies do not show any sign of improvement over the years. From this it is clear that there are significant shortcomings in the preparation of the Value Added Statement. There is a serious need for an Accounting Standard to be set in the reporting of the Value Added Statement, and companies should be obligated to comply herewith if the Value Added Statement is to be used as a meaningful criterion. It is important to ensure meaningful comparisons between various sectors, various years of analysis, and even various companies in different sectors of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die verslag is die opstel van 'n foutbank wat verskille uitwys van verskeie maatskappye se gepubliseerde Toegevoegedewaardestaat en 'n gestandardiseerde Toegevoegdewaardestaat. Hierdie gestandardiseerde Toegevoegdewaardestaat is verkry uit 'n alreeds bestaande databasis. Die vergelykings is opgesom in die aangehegte bylaes. Die verslag wys verskille uit tussen verskillende sektore op die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs, jare van rapportering en verskillende maatskappye. Daar is geen Standaard Rekeningkundige voorskrifte nie - gevolglik is daar heelwat variasie op die tema. Verskillende sektore verskil wesenlik van mekaar, maatskappye in 'n sektor verskil wesenlik van ander maatskappye in dieselfde sektor en daar is selfs verskille in hoe maatskappye van jaar tot jaar gerapporteer het. Dit is ook duidelik soos die jare verloop dat maatskappye se verslagdoening geen verbetering toon nie. Die afleiding is dat daar tekortkominge is in die voorbereiding van die Toegevoegdewaardestaat. 'n Rekeningkundige Standaard sal daargestel moet word en maatskappye sal verplig moet word om hieraan te voldoen as die Toegevoegdewaardestaat gebruik wil word as 'n betekenisvolle maatstaf. Dit is uiters belangrik om te verseker dat betekenisvolle vergelyking getref sal kan word oor verskeie jare, tussen verskeie sektore en selfs tussen verskeie maatskappye in verskeie sektore op die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Every investor that invests in JSE Securities Exchange listed shares wants to achieve optimum profits. Numerous tools are used to help investors and analysts to analyse buy signals, standard deviations, risk-adjusted returns and every possible piece of information that may lead to perfect recommendations. Despite all the problems and issues involved to make perfect recommendations, it seems as if some individuals achieve well above average results. There are no obvious reasons for the success they achieve. Often it may be ascribed to a combination of detailed technical analysis, market intelligence as well as gut-feel. This study evaluates the recommendations made by the analysts and quantifies the accuracy. Different scoring systems are used to evaluate the accuracy of the recommendations and a ranking of the analysts is compiled. Risk-adjusted returns are investigated in detail and are used in the calculations. The results of this study show that some analysts outperformed the rest by substantial margins. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Elke belegger wat in aandele op die JSE Sekuriteitebeurs belê, wil die maksimum moontlike wins maak. Verskeie modelle word gebruik om beleggers te help om koopseine, standaardafwykings, risiko-aangepaste winste en enige andere moontlike inligting te ontleed om sodoende betroubare aanbevelings te maak. Ten spyte van al die probleme wat dit moeilik maak om akkurate vooruitskatlings te maak, wil dit voorkom asof sekere individue heelwat beter vaar as die gemiddeld. Die sukses kan nie aan ooglopende aspekte toegeskryf word nie en dit berus meestal by 'n kombinasie van gedetaileerde tegniese analise, markintelligensie en "gut-feel". Hierdie studie is daarop toegespits om vooruitskattings van analiste te evalueer en die akkuraatheid van die aanbevelings te kwantifiseer. Verskeie punte stelsels word gebruik om die akkuraatheid van die aanbevelings te evalueer en 'n ranglys word opgestel na aanleiding van die resullate. Risiko aangepaste resultate word in detail ondersoek en word gebruik in die berekeninge. Die resultate van die navorsing dui daarop dat sekere ontleders aansienlik beter vaar as ander.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the relationship between dividends and stock returns on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). In this mini study project a regression model is used to investigate the relationship between dividend yield portfolios and stock returns. Each of these dividend yield portfolios are further subdivided into dividend stability portfolios which together with a regression model are used to investigate the relationship between dividend stability and stock returns on the JSE. It follows from this study that there is a non-linear relationship between the risk-adjusted returns and dividend yields. A significant finding of this study is the fact that there is an inverse linear relationship between the dividend yield and average stock returns for dividend paying portfolios on the JSE. Investors on the JSE appear to place a premium on capital gains as opposed to dividends. It follows from this study that there is an inverse correlation between dividend stability and the risk-adjusted return with the beta coefficient increasing as dividend stability decreases. Within a particular yield portfolio, it is evident that higher systematic risk is associated with shares with unstable dividend yielding histories. It is clear from the results that this dividend signalling is not limited to high yielding stocks alone. As dividends are not entirely controlled by managers, a low stable dividend yield could signal a low exposure to systematic risk to outsiders. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie word die verband tussen dividende en aandeelopbrengste op die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs ondersoek. 'n Regressiemodel is in hierdie mini werkstuk gebruik om die verwantskap tussen dividend opbrengsportfolios en aandeelopbrengs te ondersoek. Elk van hierdie opbrengsportfolios is vervolgens verder verdeel in dividendstabiliteitsportfolios wat tesame met 'n regressiemodel gebruik is om die verband tussen dividendstabiliteit en aandeelopbrengs te bepaal. Dit volg uit hierdie studie dat daar 'n nie-lineêre verband tussen risiko aangepaste aandeelopbrengs en dividendopbrengs bestaan. 'n Noemenswaardige bevinding is die inverse lineêre verwantskap tussen dividend en gemiddelde aandeelopbrengs vir dividend betalende aandele op die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs. Dit blyk asof beleggers op die Johannesburgse Effektebeurs 'n premie plaas op kapitaalgroei ten koste van dividendopbrengs. Dit volg ook uit hierdie studie dat daar 'n inverse korrelasie is tussen dividendstabiliteit en risiko aangepaste aandeelopbrengs met die beta koëffissiënte wat toeneem soos dividendstabiliteit afneem. Binne 'n spesifieke dividendopbrengsportfolio is dit duidelik dat hoër sistematiese risiko geassosieer word met onstabiele historiese dividendopbrengste. Dit volg uit die resultate dat hierdie inligtingoordrag deur middel van dividende, nie beperk is tot hoë dividendopbrengs aandele nie. Aangesien dividende nie uitsluitlik deur bestuurders beheer word nie, kan 'n aandeel met lae maar stabiele dividendopbrengs, 'n boodskap van lae blootstelling aan sistematiese risiko aan die mark oordra.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The objective of this mini study project is to examine whether data that has been entered into the databank of the Graduate School of Business of the University of Stellenbosch is correctly recorded. This mini study project forms part of a larger research project undertaken by the USB to keep a databank of listed South African industrial companies. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die mini studieprojek is om data wat in die databank van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch se Besigheidsskool ingevoer is, vir korrektheid na te gaan. Die mini studieprojek is deel van 'n groter navorsingsprojek van die Besigheidsskool om 'n databank van genoteerde Suid- Afrikaanse industriële maatskappye daar te stel.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Increased uncertainty in global markets has compelled modern investment and portfolio management to tailor specific financial outcomes. Investors can incorporate derivative instruments into their portfolios to hedge their positions against uncertainty, obtain exposure to virtually any risk or obtain current exposure for future income. Warrants are such instruments; it tracks its underlying asset as options and are tailored for smaller and private investors. It could, however, also be dangerous to one's financial health if the finer intricacies are not understood. Warrants take the investment industry to a new level, because it is essentially a retail product. Warrant issuers hedge a position in assets or on derivative exchanges at a 'wholesale' price and then short the position in small contracts on the stock exchange at a 'retail' price. The price difference presents itself in the volatility parameter used to calculate the issuing price of the warrant. Once issued, the issuer maintains influence on the price by exerting either supply or demand through maintaining a bid and offer in the market. Often, issuers use this 'market-making' to steer the instrument price towards a lower volatility parameter at the expiry of the warrant when it is neutralised, thus securing profit to the issuer. Traditionally financial institutions would market their services in managing assets. They now flex muscles in marketing a retail product through issuing warrants as well. Fierce competition exists among issuers with low cost and differentiated strategies identifiable. These strategies could persuade an investor towards a particular warrant, which might not necessarily be the best investment from the investor's viewpoint. This erodes the efficiency of the market. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toenemende onsekerheid op wêreldmarkte noodsaak hedendaagse beleggingsbestuur om spesifieke finansiele resultate te verseker. Beleggers kan afgeleide instrumente in portefeuljes gebruik om teen onsekerheid te verskans of blootstelling te verkry. Sekuriteitsregte is 'n populêre instrument vir private beleggers. Dit word uitgereik deur finansiele instellings en volg die pad van 'n onderliggende bate, soos 'n opsie. Vanweë die intrede van 'n middelman, hou hierdie instrumente egter addisionele risiko in. Sekuriteitsregte kan beskryf word as 'n kleinhandelsproduk. Kontrakskrywers neem lang posisies in bates of op die afgeleide beurs in, teen groothandel pryse en verkans kort posisies in klein kontrakte op die sekuriteitsbeurs om sodoende 'n neutrale posisie te handhaaf. Die prysverskil manifisteer as 'n volatiliteits maatstaf van die onderliggende bate. Na uitreiking beïnvloed die onderskrywers die prys deur die vraag en aanbod op die mark te manipileer. Hierdie invloed kan gebruik word om die kontrakprys na 'n laer volatiliteitsvlak te stuur voor die kontrak verstryk, sodat addisionele wins gewin kan word. Finansiële instellings bemark hul dienste tradisioneel as batebestuurders. Hul besigheid word egter nou uitgebrei deur handelsprodukte ook te bemark. Sterk kompetisie bestaan tussen onderskrywers met lae koste of gedifferensieerde strategieë identifiseerbaar. Beleggers se keuses word dikwels deur hierdie strategiese bemarking beïnvloed, eerder as om op finansiele toepaslikheid te fokus. Dit lei tot die gevolgtrekking dat die mark nie volkome voltreffend is nie.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The dream of finding the ultimate tool for forecasting market instruments like share prices has long eluded investors throughout the world. Various forecasting techniques have been examined with a view to helping the investor or analyst to gain a better understanding of price behaviour in the open market. These techniques have been based mainly on traditional statistical analysis of data to forecast price behaviour. Though used by almost all serious investors, these techniques have yielded limited success as investment instruments. The reason for this is that most of these methods explored linear relationships between variables in the forecasting model, while in fact, most relationships found between variables in the share market are non-linear. Neural networks present a unique opportunity for the investor to overcome this problem. Neural networks are mathematical models of the human brain and have the ability to map complex nonlinear relationships between data sets. This study focuses on developing a neural network model to predict the price changes of the ALSI index on the JSE one and five days into the future. The results of the neural network model were then compared to forecasting results obtained by using a traditional statistical forecasting technique namely ARIMA modelling. The study found that the neural network models did not significantly perform better than the ARIMA models. A further test was done to determine the performance of the five-day forecasting model when analysing different time windows within the given data set. The test indicated that the model did perform better when using the inputs of certain time frames. This indicates that the neural network model needs to be updated regularly to ensure optimum model performance. The results of the neural network models were also used in a trading simulation to determine whether these results could be applied successfully to trading the ALSI index on the JSE. Unfortunately, the results of the trading simulation showed that using the neural network results as trading strategy yielded poorer results than using a buy/hold investment strategy. It can therefore be concluded that, although the neural network models performed relatively well relative to traditional forecasting techniques in forecasting the ALSI index, the forecasts were still not accurate enough to be useful as inputs in a trading strategy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die droom om die perfekte vooruitskattingsinstrument te vind om die prysgedrag van verskillende markinstrumente vooruit te skat, ontwyk al generasies lank die meeste beleggers. Verskillende tegnieke is al ondersoek om die belegger te help om ’n beter gevoel van prysveranderinge in die vrye mark te verkry. Die meeste van hierdie tegnieke het gefokus op tradisionele statistiese vooruitskattingstegnieke. Alhoewel hierdie tegnieke wêreldwyd deur investeerders gebruik word, was hierdie metodes se sukses as investeringsinstrument beperk. Die rede vir hierdie beperkte sukses lê in die feit dat hierdie tegnieke slegs die lineêre verwantskappe tussen veranderlikes gebruik het om voorspellings te maak, terwyl die meeste verwantskappe wat tussen veranderlikes in die vrye mark bestaan, nie-lineêr is. Neurale netwerke bied ’n unieke geleentheid vir beleggers om bogenoemde probleme te oorkom. Neurale netwerke is wiskundige modelle wat op die werking van die menslike brein gebaseer is en besit die vermoë om komplekse nie-lineêre verwantskappe tussen datastelle te herken. Hierdie studie fokus op die ontwikkeling van ’n neurale netwerk(e) om die prysverandering van die ALSI indeks op die JEB een en vyf dae in die toekoms vooruit te skat. Die resultate van die neurale netwerk model is verder vergelyk met die resultate van tradisionele statistiese vooruitskattingstegnieke soos byvoorbeeld ARIMA tegnieke. Die studie het gevind dat die neurale netwerk modelle nie beduidend beter gevaar het as die ARIMA modelle in die vooruitskatting van die ALSI indeks in beide die een- en vyfdag vooruitskattings nie. ’n Verdere toets is gedoen om die toepaslikheid van die gekose vyfdagmodel op verskillende tydvensters van die tydreeks te bepaal. Die toets het aangetoon dat die model baie meer akkuraat is vir sekere tydvensters as vir ander tydvensters. Dit dui dus daarop dat die neurale netwerk model gereeld heropgelei behoort te word om seker te maak dat die model optimaal presteer gegewe die spesifieke insetdata. Die resultate van die neurale netwerk model is ook gebruik in ’n simulasie om te bepaal of die resultate die belegger kan help om beter investeringsbesluite rakende die ALSI indeks op die JEB te maak. Ongelukkig het die simulasie resultate gewys dat ’n beleggingstrategie gebaseer op die neurale netwerk resultate swakker opbrengste gerealiseer het as ’n koop/hou beleggingstrategie. Ten slotte het die studie getoon dat alhoewel die neurale netwerk modelle relatief goed in vergelyking met tradisionele statistiese modelle gevaar het in die vooruitskatting van die ALSI indeks, hierdie vooruitskattings nie akkuraat genoeg is om as inset tot ’n investeringstrategie gebruik te word nie.

<p>In society today large corporations are striving to regain the trust, which has been lost dur-ing the many accounting scandals that occurred lately. As a response to minimize the con-flicts countries have introduced codes of corporate governance. It is common knowledge that a company’s stakeholders and shareholders have different knowledge and interest in the company and the annual report is the agent’s main communication channel towards the principals. The Swedish code of corporate governance was implemented in July 2005 in an attempt to reduce the information gap between the managers of the company and the own-ers.</p><p>The purpose of this thesis is to examine if and how the Swedish code of corporate govern-ance has affected the content in annual reports in Sweden. We will evaluate and explain why listed companies have changed the information provided in their annual reports from the year 2001 prior to the codes existence, during the code’s implementation in year 2005, and after the implementation in 2006.</p><p>A deductive method created our research model, which was used as a tool to gather the empirical findings. Agency Theory, Institutional Theory and the Swedish code constitute the foundation for our evaluation of 65 companies’ annual reports from three individual years. Once our research model was created, an explorative and inductive method was used analyse and interpret the empirical findings.</p><p>Our conclusion is that corporate governance information in annual reports has increased, and the implementation of the Swedish code of corporate governance has affected the in-formation provided to the shareholders. Between 2001 and 2005 a rapid growth in infor-mation can be view, while only minor improvement can be found between 2005 and 2006. The Swedish code has been successful in its implementation as stakeholders and share-holders have received more information from the annual reports. However, we are ques-tioning the Swedish code for its extensive dimensions. Some areas of the Swedish code are provided with sufficient guidelines, while others would bring with it improved information to the shareholders by more detailed instructions. Many of the investigated companies have had their corporate governance information reviewed by an external auditor in 2005 and it is unexpected to see that this has been excluded in 2006. The examined companies provide information regarding many of the Swedish code’s rules, but we found the information re-lated to internal control, managing director and attendance at the general meeting insuffi-cient.</p>

Cette étude a pour objectif d’analyser l’influence de l’information multidimensionnelle diffusée à travers les sites boursiers sur la confiance de l’investisseur individuel, ainsi que tester l’effet médiateur de la confiance sur la relation informations/intention d’achat des actions.À partir d’une étude qualitative exploratoire et une étude quantitative auprès de 180 investisseurs individuels, nous montrons que la forme et la qualité de l’information influencent la confiance de l’investisseur. La qualité du site boursier exerce aussi un effet sur la confiance. De même, la confiance joue un rôle de médiateur partiel sur la relation informations/intention d’achat des actions. / This study aims to analyze the influence of multidimensional information disseminated through the stock-exchange websites on the confidence of individual investors, as well as test mediating effect of trust on the relationship information/ purchase intent actions.From a qualitative exploratory study and a quantitative study of 180 individual investors, we show that the shape and quality of the information affect investor confidence. Stock-exchange website quality also has an effect on trust. Similarly, trust plays a partial mediator of the relationship information/ intention to purchase shares.

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 5 June 2017. / Environmental reporting is largely voluntary for companies, unlike financial reporting which has well set standards for measurement, reporting, auditing and governing laws based on IFRS and GAAP. A driver such as a stock exchange is able to act as a “regulating body” that requires a minimum reporting standard for companies listed on the stock exchange. Stock exchanges have an ethical responsibility to encourage companies listed with them to be environmental stewards to provide investors with responsible investment opportunities. This study provides an understanding of the quality of environmental guidelines presented by international stock exchanges compared to key global environmental concerns. The aim of this dissertation was to assess and compare sustainability guidelines provided by selected stock exchanges, with specific focus on key global environmental concerns. The objectives were (1) to assess the existing environmental reporting requirements of 19 stock exchanges across all continents, (2) to determine how the JSE environmental reporting guidelines compared to those of other stock exchanges, (3) to compare 20 JSE listed companies’ environmental reports based on the presence and quality of data, (4) to compare what companies reported to what the JSE required and (5) to identify possible differences in reporting between the impact levels and industries of companies. A Sustainability Balanced Scorecard (SBSC) was developed by identifying seven key global environmental concerns (resources; biodiversity; water; energy; emissions, pollution and waste; products and services; and supply chain management) that were common themes from the MEA (2005) and UNEP Ecosystem Management policy (2010). A five tier scoring system specific to assessing reporting guidelines and another five tier scoring system specific to assessing company environmental reports were used. Nineteen stock exchange guidelines were assessed to represent both developing and developed countries and all regions (Africa, America, Australasia and Europe). Overall, the stock exchange guidelines addressed the key global environmental concerns rather poorly. There were no differences in the quality of guidelines for stock exchanges that recommended guidelines in developing or developed countries. There were no differences found in the guidelines of stock exchanges operating in different regions. There were differences in the focus on key global environmental concerns by the guidelines. The environmental information reported by twenty companies spanning three impact levels and seven industries was also assessed. The companies in the high and medium impact levels iv reported similarly and better than the companies in the low impact levels. There were differences found in the way companies reported according to the different industries as well as differences in the way companies addressed the key global environmental concerns. Even though the JSE’s developed guidelines did not account for resources and biodiversity, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) reporting guidelines that the JSE recommended to their listed companies covered these categories. Companies reported voluntarily on the categories because they may understand the importance of managing resources and biodiversity for the sustainability of their business. Stock exchanges are faced with a variety of companies at different impact levels representing different industries, making it difficult to provide a minimum set of environmental reporting guidelines. Stock exchanges should require companies to report on all key global environmental concerns identified in this study, but should not dictate how the companies report on them. Global environmental reporting standards may be better suited with a global sustainability body like the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) that is able to provide global standards for all companies. Companies need to change the way that they do business, the benefits of reporting on environmental performance outweigh the risks of not reporting and managing these impacts. Sustainability reporting and best practise today may be the compliance of the future. Stakeholders are increasingly expecting companies to contribute more to environmental sustainability. Companies are essential in building a resilient planet that will be able to feed a growing population that will increase from seven to nine billion people by 2050. Key words: Environmental Sustainability; Johannesburg Stock Exchange; Millennium Ecosystem Assessment; Sustainability Balanced Score Card Approach; United Nations Environment Programme Ecosystem Management Policy / GR2018