Johannesburg, 31 March 2022: The winners of the 2021 SPIRE Awards were announced by the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) at the eagerly anticipated virtual gala event held last night.

“The Spire Awards is a key milestone event and achievement for valued participants. The main feature of these Awards was the close competition between the different capital markets participants,” says Valdene Reddy the Director of Capital Markets at the JSE.

Financial services giants Absa CIB, Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) and Standard Bank took top spots in the awards. RMB narrowly beat the two competitors, to repeat last year’s feat of overall winner: Best Fixed Income & Forex House.

RMB won nine top categories of the 39 awards including amongst others Best Bond House, Best Interest Rate Derivatives House, Best Market Making Team: Interest Rate Derivatives, Best Debt Origination Team and Best Team: Inflation Linked Bonds.

Absa CIB followed closely, scooping eight top awards including Best Research House, Best Sales Team: Interest Rate Derivatives, Best Market Making Team: FX Options and Best Repo Team, amongst other categories.

Standard Bank showed great success having won five awards in 2020 to seven top awards for 2021 to claim overall third place. Amongst their awards were   Best Forex House, Best Structuring Team, Best Structured Notes Issuer and Best Market Making Team: FX & FX Futures.

Last night’s annual 20th anniversary, cemented the Spire Awards as the benchmark accolade for South African markets, as voted for by institutional investors.

“It is important to recognise and celebrate the contributions of all market participants under a tough operating environment. Capital markets play a key role in our country’s economic development. It is, therefore, important that we acknowledge and appreciate the painstaking efforts of these market participants. We commend and congratulates all the nominees and winners” Reddy concludes.

Last night’s virtual ceremony was attended by the broad financial eco-system including traders, analysts and executives of financial organisations.

The 2021 SPIRE Awards the winners are as follows:

ENDS

ABOUT THE JSE

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has a well-established history operating as a regulated marketplace for trading listed securities. The JSE is a pioneering, globally connected exchange group that enables inclusive economic growth through trusted, world class, socially responsible products, and services for the investor of the future. It offers secure and efficient primary and secondary capital markets across a diverse range of securities, spanning equities, derivatives, and debt markets. It prides itself as being the market of choice for local and international investors looking to gain exposure to leading capital markets on the African continent.

The JSE is currently ranked in the Top 20 largest stock exchanges in the world by market capitalisation, and is the largest stock exchange in Africa, having been in operation for over 130 years.

As a leading global exchange, the JSE co-creates, unlocks value and makes real connections happen.

www.jse.co.za