As Richemont chairman Johann Rupert faced a furore in Switzerland after he received the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination at a Hirslanden hospital earlier this month, Mediclinic reported an improved third-quarter performance due to unseasonably high levels of inpatient activity in Southern Africa and the Middle East. The timing was coincidental, but Mediclinic also owns Hirslanden and its biggest shareholders is Remgro, another company chaired by Rupert.

Remgro and Richemont have stood behind Rupert, saying he did not jump the queue to receive the vaccination as it entered trials in Switzerland.

Another controversy on Friday was the announcement by Redefine Properties that it's not paying a dividend for its 2020 financial year. However, it says its REIT status won't be at risk due to the potential risk to its solvency and liquidity if it went ahead with a payout.

Also today, Mr Price has continued to increase market share following a decent performance over the three months to Christmas and Reinet has grown its net asset value despite a decline in the share price of one of its biggest investments, British American Tobacco.

Finally, in The Week Ahead, Chris Gilmour looks back at some of the global and local news that shaped the markets last week and what to watch out for in the days ahead.

I hope you have a good week.

Stephen Gunnion

Managing Editor, InceConnect

The latest from Ingham Analytics

With BHP having published their half-year operational review Ingham Analytics has released a Mining Monitor featuring BHP entitled "The gift that keeps on giving for BHP". They have edged up their full-year forecast to June 2021. Is the share price fair? What's up with iron ore? The note follows on from another mining theme this week entitled "Lithium's Tesla disconnect". Other popular recent notes include "2020 Redux?" and "Saxo's outrageous predictions for 2021 and our take".