Jsedirect With Simon Brown

Simon Shares Woolies (JSE code: WHL) offering script of cash for dividend. Default is cash, I'm taking new shares. Standard Bank (JSE code: SBK) trading update looks great, HEPS some 30% higher. But what of the R1,6bn write down for lost aluminium in China the previous year? The stock initially popped 8% higher but traded red by late morning. Budget 2016, Simon's thoughts Budget is R1.46tn vs R1.45tn in the October MTBPS. Deficit R139bn, which we have to borrow and that cost is increasing as R186 government bond is 9.8% from 9.3%. Budget deficit will fall from 3.2% in the 2016/2017 year to 2.4% in 2018/2019 Capital Gains Tax (CGT) gets increased from 33.3% or marginal rate to 40% while the amount of tax free CGT every year goes from R30k to R40k. No change to Dividend Withholding Tax (DWT) or Securities Transfer Tax (STT). Lots of small tax increases and some new ones; Increased; fuel levy, bag levy, sin taxes, transfer duty on +R10m properties, etc. New; sugar tax, globe tax and tyre tax. Social gra