The half point increase in the repo rate announced by the Reserve Bank on Wednesday (29 January 2014) certainly sent a shock wave through markets.

A better global growth environment, combined with some current account improvement and better policy implementation might lead to an improved outlook for the South African economy in the year ahead, especially compared to last year.

SA investors should add listed property stocks to their portfolios this year due to their track record in beating inflation better than cash‚ bonds and certain other equity investments, says Grindrod.

Home owners and residential property investors are likely to start making money again on their bricks-and-mortar assets this year after a six-year housing slump.

House price growth across all three residential categories are in single digits in 2013, according to Absa's house price index.

House price increases slow last year but 2014 might well be better for home owners, extending the recovery of the last couple of years.

Ever since the global financial crisis of 2008 the world's advanced economies, that led the way into the crisis, have struggled to get back to their pre-crisis performances.

The festive period is an important time for retailers but, with economic growth being relatively muted, James Templeton, CEO of Emira Property Fund, says the retailers and shopping malls are going to have to work hard for their share of increasingly cautious spending this festive season.

Yearly growth in the average value of homes in the middle segment of the South African housing market continues to slow in November.

Growth in spending slowed to 1.9% in the third quarter of 2013, the Reserve Bank said on Tuesday.