And there weren't many winners

Good morning Voornaam,

Quick links:

  • Spearheaded by Sanlam and Grindrod with strong results for the 2023 financial year, you can also get the latest on Exxaro, Lighthouse, OUTsurance, STADIO, Sun International and Trellidor in Ghost Bites, brought to you by Fedgroup.

  • Investec has launched the Investec Nikkei 225 Autocall, a structured product that references the Japanese market. You can get all the details in this Ghost Stories podcast with Brian McMillan.

  • Nico Katzke of Satrix weighs in on the AI debate and asks some pertinent questions about whether this is a fad or the future - and how best to invest in it. Read the piece here>>>

  • Ever wondered how ETFs are designed? Well, wonder no more! In this podcast with Siyabulela Nomoyi of Satrix, we covered this topic and several others related to ETFs.

  • A brand new episode of the Magic Markets podcast gives you the latest on Domino's Pizza and Monster Beverage.

  • Made possible by Mazars, the latest episode of the Ghost Wrap podcast brings you the latest on NEPI Rockcastle, Vukile, Italtile, Bidcorp, Spar and Pick n Payavailable here

Events:

  • With much excitement around this unbundling and the opportunities it could bring, get into the driver's seat for WeBuyCars on Unlock the Stock. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with the management team! You simply need to register for free for the session on Thursday 14th March at 12pm at this link>>>

LISTEN: The Investec Nikkei 225 Autocall
with Brian McMillan of Investec

Brian McMillan of Structured Products at Investec talked to me about the Investec Nikkei 225 Autocall.

It offers exposure to the Nikkei 225 index over a period of up to five years with an enhanced return of up to 17% per annum in ZAR or 11.5% per annum in USD. Importantly, there is 100% capital protection provided the index does not drop by more than 30%.

Listen to this podcast to find out more.

READ: Rage against the machine: creatives vs. AI
(by Dominique Olivier)

As AI threatens the livelihood and intellectual property rights of many artists around the world, Dominique Olivier tells the story of Glaze and Nightshade - the weapons being used by artists as they rage against the machine. Read it here.

LISTEN: The ETF product design process
with Siyabulela Nomoyi of Satrix

Delving into the ETF product design process and with a discussion on the latest ETF product launches at Satrix, Siyabulela Nomoyi joined me for this insightful conversation.

Don't miss it!


Local company news:


Ghost Bites is brought to you by Fedgroup.

Sanlam was definitely one of the winners of 2023, with 11% growth in the dividend per share. The business really is doing well and the interesting exposure to India doesn't hurt either.

Grindrod also had an excellent year, with HEPS up 18% and the dividend increasing by a much higher percentage. The core business is driving the numbers forward, while the non-core portfolio is still giving headaches to the management team (and shareholders).

There's also a good news story at STADIO, where HEPS grew strongly. The share price has been trading at lofty multiples for a while, so the growth isn't a surprise to the market.

You should also look out for numbers from Exxaro, OUTsurance, Sun International and Trellidor, as well as news of a deal in Spain for Lighthouse Properties.

There's only one way to get everything you need in one click. Join me in Ghost Bites>>>

Check out the most recent episode of the Ghost Wrap podcast, made possible by Mazars. In the time it takes to drink your coffee, you can get the latest on NEPI Rockcastle, Vukile, Italtile, Bidcorp, Spar and Pick n PayGet it here>>>

In my Namibian radio segment, I discussed Nedbank, MTN, Spur and Shoprite. You'll find those insights here>>>

READ: DealMakers summaries and trends

The team at DealMakers has delivered another week of M&A summaries and an overview of SA corporate finance deals.

You'll also enjoy an article on trends in SA capital markets.

READ: Artificial Intelligence - fad or future, and how best to invest
(by Nico Katzke of Satrix)

Nico Katzke of Satrix asks the real questions when it comes to AI, including the ones that few seem to be asking about its sustainability.

Get his views here.

LISTEN: Magic Markets podcast

In Episode 165 of Magic Markets, we looked at unhealthy choices for your body that are perhaps healthy additions to your portfolio.

I covered Domino's Pizza (including a look at South African peers) and Mohammed Nalla dealt with Monster Beverage - which also happens to be able to trace its roots to South Africa!

Magic Markets is a great way to expand your reach to global opportunities. Listen to the show here.

 

Currencies, commodities and rates: TreasuryONE Market Update

The ECB kept rates on hold and reiterated the stance of major central banks in not trying to show their hands early. The mantra of higher for longer continues.

It could be a case this year of seeing which central bank blinks first with rate cuts, as they are all sitting on their hands and watching the data.

The higher for longer approach to rates took some shine off gold after it traded at $2,164 at one stage. Platinum and palladium held onto their gains from the prior day.

This week ends with the release of non-farm payroll numbers in the US, so keep an eye out for that.

Key indicators: USD/ZAR R18.78; US 10-year 4.11%; Gold $2,154; Platinum ZAR R17,291; Brent Crude $82.48

READ: Stability doesn't always have to come at a cost
with Fedgroup

Fedgroup believes that a combination of fixed-term investments can do more than just withstand a battering. In fact, they cann offer solid returns as well.

Learn more here.


International company news:


Abercrombie & Fitch is still doing incredibly well in its turnaround efforts, with sales for the holiday quarter up by 21%. Gross margin was a substantial 62.9%, which is well up on the comparable period thanks to higher average selling prices.

Despite this, the share price suffered quite the sell-off yesterday of over 5%. This comes after a rally of more than 40% in 2024 alone. Beware of stocks that have gone parabolic: they tend to want to correct and take a few scalps with them.

And yes, in case you're wondering, Abercrombie & Fitch is a recent addition to the Magic Markets Premium research library. Along with all the other reports, it's available for R99/month by subscribing here.

READ: Satrix launches Satrix JSE Global Equity ETF

Satrix is releasing a new product that gives a higher weighting to local companies with international listings.

In other words: more of an offshore component. Find out more in this article.

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