SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Demonstrate insight into current affairs in the Financial Services sector 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
120075  Demonstrate insight into current affairs in the Financial Services sector 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Insurance and Investment 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 03 - Business, Commerce and Management Studies Finance, Economics and Accounting 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  10 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 
2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard replaces: 
US ID Unit Standard Title Pre-2009 NQF Level NQF Level Credits Replacement Status
14529  Demonstrate knowledge and insight into current affairs in the financial services sector  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5   

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This Unit Standard is intended to promote an in-depth knowledge and understanding of current affairs in the Financial Services sector in order to ensure knowledgeable and informed workers. It requires the application of knowledge and interpretation of current affairs and provides an opportunity for the learner to integrate theory and practice and to engage in thinking processes at a high level.

The qualifying learner is capable of:
  • Analysing the impact of changes in financial indicators on Financial Markets.
  • Analysing issues related to corporate governance and ethics.
  • Analysing corporate events and the potential impact on the Financial Services industry.
  • Identifying commentators and analysts in the industry and the potential impact of their opinions on the market. 

  • LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    There is open access to this Unit Standard. Learners should be competent in Communication and Mathematical and Financial Literacy at NQF Level 4. 

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    The typical scope of this Unit Standard is:
  • Articles from business journals and publications, news from printed or electronic media.
  • Typical corporate events include, but are not limited to mergers, acquisitions, capitalisation, management changes, unemployment and the use of technology. 

  • Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Analyse the impact of changes in financial indicators on Financial Markets. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Three global financial indicators are tracked over a period of six months and the changes are recorded graphically. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The expected effect of changes in three global financial indicators on the Financial Markets is explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Three domestic financial indicators are tracked over a period of six months and the changes are recorded graphically. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The expected effect of changes in three domestic indicators on the Financial Markets is explained with examples. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Three global, legal, political and/or socio-economic events that could impact on the Financial Markets are selected and analysed in terms of the potential impact. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    The impact of a selected global event is interpreted in terms of the potential impact on South Africa. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Analyse issues related to corporate governance and ethics. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Positive examples of corporate governance and ethics are identified from the media and an opinion is expressed and substantiated on the merits of each case. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Negative examples of corporate governance and ethics are identified from the media and an opinion is expressed and substantiated on the merits of each case. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Analyse corporate events and the potential impact on the Financial Services industry. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Three typical current events are identified and discussed with reference their potential impact on the Financial Services sector. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Three typical current events are identified and discussed with reference to how each could impact on a specific organisation. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Identify commentators and analysts in the industry and the potential impact of their opinions on the market. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Regular contributors to financial columns are named and an opinion is expressed and substantiated on the credibility of each commentator or analyst. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    A commentary is analysed to identify comments for and against an issue. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The potential impact of the commentator's opinion on the Market is identified for three selected events. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    A substantiated opinion is expressed on the validity of a commentary based on comparison with similar commentaries and the credibility of the writer. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    An issue is tracked over a period of three months and an indication is given of changes in opinion on the issue during that period. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    This Unit Standard will be internally assessed by the provider and moderated by a moderator registered by INSQA or a relevant accredited ETQA. The mechanisms and requirements for moderation are contained in the document obtainable from INSQA, INSQA framework for assessment and moderation. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    The learner is able to identify and solve problems in which responses show that responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking have been made in expressing and substantiating opinions on current events in the sector. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    The learner is able to organise and manage him/herself and his/her activities responsibly and effectively in collecting and organising a portfolio of evidence for the assessment of this Unit Standard. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    The learner is able to collect, organise and evaluate information when tracking changes in indicators, analysing events and commentaries and tracking changes in opinions on an issue. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    The learner is able to communicate effectively using visual, mathematical and language skills when presenting the findings of his/her research and recording changes in financial indicators graphically. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    The learner is able to use science and technology effectively and critically showing responsibility towards the environment and the health of others in accessing information from electronic media to substantiate an argument. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    The learner is able to demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems in selecting and analysing events and their potential impact on the financial markets. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    The learner is able to explore a variety of strategies of learning when gathering information from a broad spectrum of media. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    This unit standard replaces unit standard 14529, "Demonstrate knowledge and insight into current affairs in the financial services sector", Level 5, 5 credits.

    Assessment:
  • Portfolio assessment over a period of six months is required for this Unit Standard. 

  • QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Fundamental  49834   National Certificate: Financial Services: Long-Term Risk Assessment  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2012-06-30  INSETA 
    Fundamental  61529   National Certificate: Loss Adjusting  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  INSETA 
    Fundamental  57918   National Certificate: Short Term Insurance  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  INSETA 
    Fundamental  66611   National Certificate: Wealth Management  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 
    Fundamental  49860   National Diploma: Financial Services: Long-Term Risk Assessment  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered" 
    2023-06-30  INSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. African Resources & Financial Training (Pty) Ltd 
    2. CKP Development Agency (Pty) Ltd 
    3. Ray Strodl Consulting (Pty) Ltd 
    4. Ripple Effect 4 (Pty) Ltd 
    5. The Graduate Institute of Financial Sciences (Pty) Ltd 
    6. The Institute of Health Risk Managers (Pty) Ltd 
    7. Universal Healthcare Services Pty Ltd 



    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.