Observer Money

Chamwe Kaira  Nictus Holdings Limited has advised shareholders that it expects higher earnings for the six months ended 31 December 2025. In a trading statement issued in line with the Namibian Securities Exchange listing requirements, the company said earnings per share (EPS) are expected to range between 62.65 cents and 74.39 cents for the period. This represents an increase of between 6.77% and 26.77% compared with the 58.68 cents reported for the six months ended 31 December 2024. Nictus said headline earnings per share (HEPS) are expected to be between 62.18 cents and 73.76 cents. This reflects an increase of…

Chamwe Kaira  Deep Yellow Limited says it continues to monitor developments in the global uranium market as it advances its flagship Tumas uranium project in Namibia. The company said supply and demand imbalances and growing interest in nuclear energy remain key factors influencing the timing of a final investment decision for the project. During the six months ended 31 December 2025, Deep Yellow focused on its strategy to position itself as a diversified uranium producer. Work during the period included progress on the Tumas Project in Namibia, metallurgical test work and feasibility studies at the Mulga Rock Project in Western…

Staff Writer  Hollard Namibia has launched Hollard Gap Cover as private healthcare costs continue to rise faster than inflation and salary growth. Medical aid often covers basic healthcare costs but does not always settle the full cost of services. “When this happens, members may face shortfalls between what their medical aid pays and what healthcare providers charge, leaving families to cover the difference out of pocket,” the company said. The company said these shortfalls can become more common as healthcare costs increase and medical aid funds try to balance affordability and the sustainability of benefits. Hollard Gap Cover is designed…

Staff Writer   Namibia Health Plan (NHP), the largest medical aid fund in Namibia with about 80 000 members, says it will place a stronger focus on preventative healthcare to protect member health before illnesses become severe and costly to treat. The fund said it is seeing more cancer cases, including among younger people, as well as rising mental health conditions linked to stress. This approach forms part of NHP’s strategy to move beyond the traditional role of paying medical claims and to support members through early detection, wellness education, health risk management and timely intervention. NHP’s preventative healthcare programme includes…

Chamwe Kaira  The JSE Limited has reported record financial results for the year ended 31 December 2025, with net profit after tax exceeding R1 billion for the first time. Net profit after tax rose 16.7% to R1.07 billion from R918 million in 2024. Headline earnings per share increased 17.7% to 1,328.9 cents from 1,128.6 cents the previous year. Earnings before interest, tax and depreciation increased by 15.5% to R1.38 billion. Return on equity improved to 22.0% from 20.2% in 2024. The exchange generated net cash from operations of R1.23 billion, up 12.3% from the previous year. The board increased the…

It would be difficult to overstate the degree to which the global trading environment has deteriorated in early 2026. What began as a series of distinct geopolitical tensions – the protracted Russia-Ukraine conflict, deepening US-China rivalry, and the steady ratcheting up of protectionist trade measures – has now converged into a single, compounding set of risks.  The US-led military strikes on Iran in late February and Tehran’s subsequent declaration of war have added a volatile and unpredictable dimension to an already fragile global order. For a small, open, commodity-exporting economy like Namibia, these developments are not abstract.  They transmit directly…

Staff Writer  FirstRand Limited says high commodity prices, a weaker US dollar and policy easing by the US Federal Reserve will support the macroeconomic environment in many of the countries where the group operates. The bank said this outlook remains in place despite geopolitical tensions and policy uncertainty in major global economies. In Namibia, the FirstRand Namibia Group owns FNB Namibia and RMB Namibia. FirstRand said the macroeconomic environment in South Africa is improving during the second half of the financial year. Progress on structural reforms continues, including measures that allow more private sector investment and the creation of more…

Chamwe Kaira  Authorities have assured investors operating in Namibia’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that their interests will be protected while the government reviews tax incentives offered under the framework. CDH Namibia noted in its 2026/27 budget review that measures will be introduced to maintain a stable and predictable rules-based environment for businesses already operating within SEZ structures. The planned reforms aim to strengthen the role of SEZs in supporting economic activity, skills transfer and technology development while contributing to national revenue. The government indicated that the design of SEZ incentives will consider global economic conditions and Namibia’s international obligations. It…

Staff Writer Namdeb Diamond Corporation has launched a book documenting more than three decades of its operations and contribution to Namibia’s diamond industry. The book, titled Mining for Good: The Namdeb Story 1994–2024, was unveiled at an event attended by industry leaders, partners and stakeholders. The publication traces Namdeb’s development since its establishment in 1994 as a 50:50 partnership between the Government of Namibia and the De Beers Group. It also explores the broader history of diamond mining in Namibia, beginning with the first discovery in 1908. Namdeb said the book presents a narrative on the value of natural diamonds…