Political uncertainty is one of the worst things that could happen to your investment portfolio. Unlike risk - which can be measured up to a point - the impact of uncertainty requires a wait-and-see approach. Karin Richards, an independent trader, says it's for these moments you should have stocks that hedge against rand movements: companies with a diversified geographical presence. "Look for well-managed companies with hard currency earnings," says Richards. Her picks for long-term hedging are British American Tobacco,property group Hammerson, mining company Glencore, retail group Steinhoff and paper and pulp manufacturer Mondi. Richards says it's important to look at the company's geographical split of revenue and earnings. Many companies provide a table of sensitivities to the currencies that impact them most in the "analyst fact book" section or in the company's results presentation booklet, she says. Investors should ensure that foreign-denominated debt is matched by revenue in...
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