Every now and then, a listed company releases results that give me a great opportunity to dig a bit deeper and show you how to find stuff. With numbers released just before the long weekend, Sappi was that company. Thanks to some major skews from the tax expense and some rounding off of the HEPS number that really doesn't tell the full story, it's a great way to learn about the value of looking into the financials in more detail.

Along with Sappi, you'll find the latest on Astoria, Exxaro, Gold Fields (a really disappointing performance despite high gold prices), Jubilee Metals and Orion Minerals in Ghost Bites. I certainly wouldn't ignore the massive share purchase by the Prosus CEO, either. Get all the details here>>>

The good people of Investec are back with a new episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, hosted by Jeremy Maggs and featuring Tinus Rautenbach as the guest. He heads up Investec's new online trading and investing platform Clarity, aimed at investors who want to take more control over their portfolios. I'm all for that, which is why I think you'll enjoy this podcast>>> 

While we are on the topic of podcasts, be sure to check out the latest Magic Markets episode on how to prepare for a market sell-down - or even a crash! It's all about building your watchlist and being ready to pull the trigger at the right time. You can't start your research journey on the morning of all the action, that's for sure. For the investors among you who want to get better at buying the dips, this is a great listen/read>>>

The beauty of the markets is that there are so many different ways to get involved. From setting up a monthly ETF debit order with the likes of Satrix through to engaging in day trading in CFDs, there's something for everyone. In many cases, being involved across the spectrum is the best way to do things. To help you learn more about the trading side of things, IG Markets South Africa has put together an excellent piece on the IG Academy about trading plans and risk management. There's also a quiz at the end, so you can test your understanding after reading it. Be sure to check it out here and learn about this element of the markets.

Of course, there's more to life than just the markets. Dominique Olivier's latest piece is an excellent look at the art market and how to "invest" in it - with a strong dose of caveat emptor. Featuring a Banksy artwork that tells you everything you need to know about this quirky and exotic industry, this is a highly entertaining and informative piece. Read it here>>>

Have a great Monday!

Things seem to be improving for the streamers other than Netflix. After Disney released better numbers, we saw Paramount Global come in with the news of a modest profit in streaming. They are also cutting tons of costs, with 15% of the US workforce set to lose their jobs. After finally agreeing to a merger with Skydance Media last month, they now need to deliver the synergies - and these inevitably include headcount redundancy initiatives. It's easy to do this in the US, which is why we see more deals there.

Although Paramount missed revenue expectations by some margin, earnings per share came in way above expectations at 54 cents vs. 12 cents expected. The streaming division made a profit of $26 million for the quarter. Just 5 zillion more quarters like this and they will recoup all the losses made to date!

We are covering Airbnb in Magic Markets Premium this week. For subscribers to Magic Markets Premium, the investment of R99/month is the best investment they can make.

US and European index futures are suggesting a marginally firmer start to the day, while Japan is closed on account of a holiday and Asian markets trade within a tight range. Our local bourse is expected to open slightly higher in line with its global peers.

The dollar is modestly weaker and the rand slightly firmer in early trade.

As Israeli forces move further into Gaza we have seen Middle Eastern tensions rise to prop up oil prices.

Gold has gained on escalating Middle Eastern tensions and a softer dollar.

There is no high-impact economic data scheduled for today.

Key Indicators: USD/ZAR R18.33/$ | US 10yr 3.94% | Gold $2,430/oz | Platinum $927/oz | Brent Crude $79.54

The macroeconomic update is based on IG's morning call update