A string of consecutive highs for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, arguably two of the world's most watched stock indices, ended last Thursday, with sharp declines across a number of markets - the JSE included. Markets weakened again on Friday and are likely to mark time today due to the US Labor Day holiday.

In The Week Ahead, Chris Gilmour examines some of the factors that are driving markets and what to watch out for in the days ahead, including results from Shoprite, Momentum and FirstRand. Our second quarter GDP figures are also out this week, and Chris says they are likely to make for scary reading.

If you're looking for sound advice in these unpredictable markets, take a closer look at our new partner, Rand Swiss, an authorised financial services provider and currently ranked South Africa's #1 Stockbroker, Best Advice Broker and People's Choice Award Winner by the Intellidex/Financial Mail Top Stockbrokers Survey.

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Also today, the latest edition of Today's Trustee has just been released. The publication was launched as a quarterly magazine 15 years ago to perform a watchdog role for the retirement fund industry and help guide the principal officers and trustees of retirement funds. Given current market volatility, it's just as relevant for members. Get free access to Today's Trustee by following this link and make sure that your fund is being managed in line with best-practice social, environmental and governance principles.

Finally, in the latest Thorts, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr's Elnalene Cornelius and Tessa Brewis discuss dealmaking opportunities in a time of crisis.

I hope you have a good week.

Stephen Gunnion

Managing Editor, InceConnect

The latest from Ingham Analytics

This past week Ingham Analytics issued "Gold bug" and concluded that on balance they are in favour of the fundamentals underpinning gold prices and therefore the investment case. They also published a chunky Equity and Credit Markets Insight entitled "Powell-ing along" making a point that risk-taking in US financial markets has reached epic proportions. This note was timely in view of the rout last week in Tech stocks in the US, with Tesla down 20%. Other recent notes that are popular downloads are "Skin on the bones" and an "An Apple a day...?", which featured Apple - also down in the rout but still insanely valued they say.