Global equities ended the week lower amid renewed US-Iran conflict, with Brent crude climbing to $104.35 per barrel. The International Energy Agency pushed back its forecast for a full recovery in Middle Eastern oil supplies to 2027, while projecting global oil demand to decline by 2.5 million barrels per day in 2026. Government bonds came under pressure across global markets, with yields reaching fresh 2026 highs in the US, UK and Germany. Higher energy prices reinforced e

US employment data surprised to the upside in August, with nonfarm payrolls rising by 162,000, well ahead of expectations, while upward revisions to June and July added a further 55,000 jobs. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%, while the labour force participation rate increased to 61.6%. Other labour market indicators during the week were somewhat mixed, with job openings edging higher to 7.27 million but falling short of expectations, while initial jobless claims wer

Global markets ended the week modestly higher as strong NVIDIA earnings renewed enthusiasm around artificial intelligence, while falling oil prices eased some inflation concerns. These gains were tempered by Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s Jackson Hole address, which reaffirmed the Fed’s commitment to its inflation target and kept further tightening on the table. South African assets also performed relatively well. Gains in financial, industrial and property shares offs

US equities closed the week on a firmer note, with Friday's session pausing a run of losses after data showed business activity expanding at its fastest pace in more than four years. The S&P 500 added 0.4%, the Nasdaq 100 rose 0.3%, and the Dow gained 518 points on the day. That relief came too late to rescue the week, however, as elevated Treasury yields, renewed US-Iran tensions, higher oil prices and weakness in semiconductor and AI-related names weighed broadly on sentime

After several data-heavy weeks, markets entered a quieter period, with investor sentiment remaining constructive and volatility falling back towards its 2026 lows despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East. Inflation remained the key focus, with signs of renewed moderation helping to ease concerns around persistent price pressures and supporting fresh highs in parts of the US equity market. With the Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting only in September, att

Global equities extended their advance this week, with the S&P 500 up 3.6% and the Nasdaq surging 5.2% on a chip stock rebound, both indices posting their best weekly performance since April. The catalyst was a surprisingly weak July US jobs report: nonfarm payrolls fell by 23,000 against expectations of an 83,000 gain, while unemployment ticked down to 4.1% as participation dropped to a five-year low. Markets read the print as a green light for the Fed to stay on hold, with

Key Highlights | Minister Enoch Godongwana | 25 February 2026 Please see below the highlights of this year's budget.

In June, U.S. consumer and producer price data hinted at the early effects of rising tariffs, but overall figures remained modest,...

Global markets were rattled this week by renewed trade tensions, with President Trump confirming the imposition of 25% tariffs on...

U.S. lawmakers made meaningful progress on the long-debated budget reconciliation bill this week. The Senate passed the legislation on...

U.S. stocks rallied over the week, lifted by a string of positive developments, including easing tensions in the Middle East, dovish...

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at 4.25%–4.5% for a fourth consecutive meeting, maintaining a cautious stance amid...

Brent crude rallied on Friday, settling 7.0 % higher at USD 74.23 per barrel after Israel and Iran exchanged air strikes. Intraday, the...

Hiring slowed slightly in May as businesses and consumers contended with tariff concerns and a potentially cooling economy. Nonfarm...

Equity markets opened the week with strong gains after President Trump announced a delay in a newly proposed 50% tariff on EU imports...

Markets took a breather last week after a strong rally, with the S&P 500 pulling back following nearly a 20% rise since April. Investor...

The United States and China have agreed to a 90-day suspension of recently imposed tariff measures as part of efforts to reset bilateral...

This week marked a notable development in international trade relations as U.S. President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir...

U.S. stocks ended the week higher, with the S&P 500 (+2.9%) posting a second straight weekly gain and a nine-day winning streak. The...

Global markets regained their footing this week as investor sentiment improved, buoyed by signs of easing trade tensions and...