π Worldwide Markets β Episode 647 (9 Sept 2025)
This week on *Worldwide Markets*, Simon Brown dives into global markets, tech giants, crypto shifts, commodities, and currencies. Recorded a day early before heading to Leaderex, hereβs whatβs moving markets right now. Powered by Standard Bank and Shyft. π³π
π US Jobs & Rate Cuts
- US jobs report was a mixed bag β +22k jobs, but mostly in healthcare.
- June revised downward to negative, July slightly up.
- Unemployment steady at 4.3%.
- Market expectation: Fed to cut rates next week after Jackson Hole signals.
- SA MPC unlikely to cut as inflation edges higher at 3.5%.
π Alphabet (Google) Court Cases
- Alphabet gets a gentle slap on the wrist in antitrust cases.
- Remedies minimal β no spin-offs of Chrome/Android, search payments (Apple $20bn/year, Firefox $750m) remain.
- Stock ran to all-time highs π (PE still below historical mean).
- Another case pending on ad dominance β possible spinoffs (YouTube, DoubleClick?) could unlock hidden value.
βΏ AltVest β African Bitcoin Corporation
- AltVest rebrands to African Bitcoin Corporation (ABC).
- Pivot: becoming a Bitcoin treasury company like MicroStrategy.
- Raising R11m at R11/share (vs. current Β±R5). Proceeds to fund name change + Bitcoin buys.
- Ambition: raise R210m (maybe even $210m?) in tranches.
- Risky bet β doubling down on volatile BTC exposure. β‘
π’οΈ Oil & Sasol
- OPEC+ to increase output ~200k barrels/day.
- Saudi Arabia aims for market share β oil likely heading to $60.
- Sasol still strong πͺ β potential run to R135βR140 before Simon trims profits.
π‘ ASML & Mistral (AI)
- Rumours: Dutch chip giant ASML investing \$1.5bn in French AI startup Mistral.
- ASML has cash $8.5bn, but risks blurring lines by funding customersβ ecosystem.
- Simon skeptical: βPicking AI winners this early is messy.β
π Bull Market Still Running
- SA Top 40 at record highs (95k+).
- Possible push to 100k points this month.
- βThis is still a bull market until itβs not.β ππ₯
π₯ Precious Metals
- Gold β holding gains, bullish above \$3,450.
- Platinum & Palladium β strong breakouts, holding support.
- Silver β resilient above \$40.
- Precious metals complex all looking firm. β¨
π΅ Rand & Global Trade
- Rand currently at R17.55, with potential to test R17.00 if US cuts rates.
- Africa-China trade up 25% to $122bn β filling void left by US. π¨π³π€π
πΊπΈ Trumpβs Tariff Exemptions
- Trump exempts; uranium, tungsten, graphite, gold, bullion from tariffs.
- Good news for SA resources sector.
ποΈ Final Thoughts
- Markets remain bullish, metals are shining, oil likely weaker, and crypto experiments continue.
- If youβre at Leaderex, come say hi π.
- Powered by Standard Bank & Shyft β the global money app for payments, travel, and investing.
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JSE β The JSE is a registered trademark of the JSE Limited.
JSE Direct is an independent broadcast and is not endorsed or affiliated with, nor has it been authorised, or otherwise approved by JSE Limited. The views expressed in this programme are solely those of the presenter, and do not necessarily reflect the views of JSE Limited.
Wednesdays are all about hard-core investing and trading with Simon Brownβs famous JSE Direct podcast. JSE Direct started life on ClassicFM in July 2008 and became a podcast in 2011. Every week Simon shares his views on the state of global economies, individual shares and events moving markets.
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JSE β The JSE is a registered trademark of the JSE Limited.
JSE Direct is an independent broadcast and is not endorsed or affiliated with, nor has it been authorised, or otherwise approved by JSE Limited. The views expressed in this programme are solely those of the presenter, and do not necessarily reflect the views of JSE Limited.
