Average market risk premium in South Africa 2011-2024
The average market risk premium in South Africa increased to 8.3 percent in 2024. Market premium risk represents the difference between return on equities and a risk-free investment, which is normally associated with short-term government bonds. For comparison, the U.S. market premium risk amounted to 5.5 percent in the same year.
Risk-free rate
Most analysts consider the U.S. treasury rate to be the risk-free rate for the term of their investment, assuming the United States government will not default. Just as consumers in the Unites States get a credit rating, agencies such as Standard & Poor’s rate countries’ credit risks. Using these data, analysts compute the country-specific default risk, which in turn has an influence on the value of risk-free rate.
What influences the return on equities?
The economic factors such as political stability in a country, inflation rate, level of indebtment, trade deficit and investments have an influence on the activities of companies and their valuation on the stock exchanges. Apart from the economic cycle, the company’s operations itself, which are reflected in the results published in the financial reports, can boost or diminish the stock returns.
