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PIC, the South African state investor, benefits from the mining stocks rally and green bets decline

Public Investment Corporation, a South African state-owned investor, reported an increase of 22.5% in its listed equity portfolio for the fiscal year ending March 2025. The report was published on Friday.

PIC is Africa's largest asset management company, managing assets for clients in the public sector including South African civil servants pension funds.

The South African stock exchange's 31.3% return on the dollar over that period, significantly outpacing the 8.6% growth of emerging markets according to MSCI, was a major factor in the financial returns for the 2024/25 year. This was mainly due to cyclical and resources-heavy sectors.

PIC's investment in non-life insurance companies led the sub-sector with a 62% increase, while stocks of construction and materials in its portfolio grew by 44% on expectations for infrastructure recovery.

PIC reported that precious metals and mining stocks gained 42.5%, as geopolitical concerns boosted demand for assets such as gold and platinum. These are seen as safe-haven assets.

PIC's alternative energies stocks, on the other hand, fell by 51.3% due to regulatory obstacles and low gas prices. Chemicals declined 36.5% as a result of weaker gas and ammonia markets. Industrial metals also fell 24.2% due to falling commodity prices and increasing production costs.

This divergence highlights the greater challenge facing emerging markets in balancing economic growth with climate ambitions. South Africa has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by net zero in 2050. It is also seeking climate finance from wealthy nations to help it transition from coal to renewables.

PIC stated that regulatory restrictions prevented it from increasing exposure to financials which affected overall performance. The fund has emphasized that it is increasing its commitment to sustainable and early-stage investments. However, they are still small compared to the listed equity holdings. $1 = 17.2378 rand (Reporting and editing by Colleen Goko; Susan Fenton).

(source: Reuters)