Investec was punished by the market on Friday after it warned of a significant decline in full-year earnings, partly due to hedging costs for its UK structured products book. However, like other banks, it has reported an improved second half. And after paying an interim dividend, it appears that a final dividend is also likely.

Northam Platinum isn't paying a dividend for the first-half of its financial year as it continues to buy back the preference shares that were issued to Zambezi Platinum as part of an empowerment deal struck six years ago. RMB Holdings isn't paying a dividend either as it grows its property investments. However, its shares soared 19% after it said it would return capital that had been set aside for a Romanian property development back to shareholders as it wasn't proceeding with the investment.

More on those stories to follow in today's newsletter, along with interim results from printing and publishing group Caxton and a trading update from Investec Property Fund.

Episode 17 of the Magic Markets podcast, entitled Trading the Scandals, is packed with commentary by hosts The Finance Ghost and Mohammed Nalla (Moe-Knows) on the companies that previously dominated the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Think Tongaat Hulett and EOH, for starters. It's free, entertaining and educational and you can find it here.

Also, in The Week Ahead, Chris Gilmour takes us through the news that moved the markets last week and what to watch out for over the next few days.

Finally, we've added a new feature to our articles to build our engagement with readers, and give you a forum to express your views. At the bottom of each article, we've included a comments section. We'd love to hear from you.

I hope you have a good day.

Stephen Gunnion

Managing Editor, InceConnect

The latest from Ingham Analytics

Ingham Analytics has issued an updated analysis of the GameStop saga in the US, a trade that continues to astonish by its volatility and speculative behaviour. If you'd like to get a better understanding of the short-dated options market in the stock, then Andrew Kinsey gives a punchy example of it in practice in "Is GameStop a bathtub drain?". Other popular notes include "Rate accelerator", "Is there a TARGET(2) on my back?", "South African bond yields - COVID-19 infected?"and a "A fifteen-year gulf".