Shaken, Not Stirred: As November unfolds, the financial world finds itself in a plot worthy of 007 himself—complete with intrigue, high stakes, and unexpected twists. The return of Donald Trump to the White House has set the stage for a showdown that could rival Casino Royale. His pro-growth policies may sound like the shiny gadgets […]
Election Fever: Rising Yields and Fiscal Uncertainty Shake Market Momentum The stock market’s rally encountered an “October surprise” as rising bond yields grabbed attention, much like a last-minute swing in the polls. Following the Fed’s half-point rate cut, both 2- and 10-year Treasury yields unexpectedly spiked, creating an economic twist reminiscent of a debate […]
A brief overview of the market in September 2024: – United States Monthly return in US$ USA Dow Jones Industrial 30 2.0% Positive USA Nasdaq Composite 2.8% Positive USA S & P 500 […]
August was a month of contrasts for global markets, marked by significant volatility and a pronounced recovery in the latter half. The month had a turbulent start, driven by escalating concerns about a potential US recession and the unwinding of carry trades, which led to sharp selloffs in various asset classes. However, by month-end, markets […]
August’s Market Clash: A Thrilling Showdown – August in the financial markets was like a classic showdown. Just when it seemed some asset classes might be down for the count, they managed to rally back, ending the month on a high note with global stocks ultimately coming out ahead. Even though some markets faced a […]
The Olympic Games of Rotation – In the grand arena of financial markets, akin to an Olympic stadium buzzing with excitement, we’ve seen a remarkable shift in front runners over the past month. In the U.S., it’s been a dazzling sprint by small-cap and value stocks, alongside cyclical sectors, outpacing the marathon dominance of mega-cap […]
The second quarter of 2024 painted a diverse picture across global markets, with notable disparities in regional and sector performances. Emerging markets shone brightly, as evidenced by the MSCI EM USD Index’s impressive +5.0% rise (YTD: +7.5%), outpacing the MSCI World USD Index, which posted a +2.6% gain (YTD: +11.8%) for the same period. This […]
Election ANC-xiety The month of May ended with all eyes focused on South Africa’s national elections. In a historic upset, akin to a championship team losing its long-held title, South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) stumbled, losing its majority for the first time since Nelson Mandela’s triumphant post-apartheid victory 30 years ago. The ANC’s decline […]
Throughout the month, the global financial markets have been weaving their way through an intricate tapestry of geopolitical uncertainties, pivotal economic data, and the strategic directions undertaken by central banks. In the United States, the Federal Reserve’s March Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting heralded a wave of optimism. The dovish tone struck by Federal […]
During the month, global financial markets navigated through a complex interplay of economic indicators, geopolitical tensions and central bank policies. In the US, ongoing concerns surrounding the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy stance played a pivotal role. Investors closely monitored signals from the central bank regarding its approach to interest rates and inflation management amidst mounting […]