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US markets were under pressure yesterday. The main reason was that ASML, Europe's top tech company that makes cutting-edge chipmaking machines, put out a gloomy forecast. Analysts also noted that the US plans to further limit sales of advanced AI chips to certain countries. This fuelled a selloff in the semiconductor sector, with market-leader Nvidia down 4.5%.

In company news, Goldman Sachs was originally up over 3%, but closed flat, after reporting a 45% surge in third-quarter profit, thanks to a surprise boost in equity trading and a strong rebound in its investment banking division. Elsewhere, oil stocks fell on news of Israel's targeting of Iranian military assets rather than crude production facilities. Exxon Mobil ended 3.0% lower and Chevron dropped 2.7%. As we like to say in South Africa, shame.

In summary, the JSE All-share was down 0.52%, the S&P 500 fell 0.76%, and the Nasdaq was 1.01% lower.

US markets climbed on Monday, with the S&P 500 setting another record high. This is getting a bit repetitive, but we love it. The Nasdaq 100 also posted strong gains. Nvidia (+2.4%) led the rise among megacaps, while Apple (+1.7%) benefited from a positive analyst outlook. Tesla bounced back after Friday's drop.

In company news, Adobe shares rose 2.9% after the company introduced new AI tools designed to create and edit videos. Elsewhere, Amgen's stock slipped 1.1% after Truist Securities downgraded it to a hold, suggesting that sales of a forthcoming obesity drug are already factored into the current stock price.

At the close, the JSE All-share was up 0.29%, the S&P 500 rose 0.77%, and the Nasdaq was 0.87% higher.

US markets started earnings season on a high note, with stocks hitting record levels as major banks posted strong results. The S&P 500 reached its 45th record high close of 2024. JPMorgan rose 4.4% after reporting a surprise increase in net income, while Wells Fargo jumped 5.6%, forecasting a smaller-than-expected drop in theirs.

In company news, Tesla fell 8.8% after the EV-maker unveiled its self-driving robotaxi at a flashy event that was light on specifics. Elsewhere, Toronto-Dominion Bank dropped 4.0% on Friday, extending its two-day decline to nearly 10%. This follows the bank's $3.1 billion fine and restrictions placed on its US retail banking assets after it was found to have allowed money launderers to operate accounts.

On Friday, the JSE All-share was up a solid 0.89%, the S&P 500 rose a respectable 0.61%, and the Nasdaq was 0.33% higher.

US markets took a breather yesterday after inflation came in slightly higher than expected, coupled with signs of a cooling labour market. From the Fed's perspective, these data points are contradictory. This has fuelled the ongoing debate about whether the Fed will go for a smaller rate cut next month, or pause altogether, after the significant cut in September.

In company news, Berkshire Hathaway sold $1.89 billion worth of multi-tranche samurai bonds yesterday, sparking speculation that Warren Buffett may be gearing up to increase his investments in Japanese assets. Elsewhere, Delta Air Lines has projected lower-than-expected profit and sales for the year's final months, pointing to a slower rebound after a rough Northern Hemisphere travel season.

Yesterday, the JSE All-share was up a tiny 0.07%, the S&P 500 fell 0.21%, and the Nasdaq was 0.05% lower.

US markets finished higher yesterday thanks to a strong showing from tech stocks. The S&P 500 reached its 44th record for 2024. Apple rose 1.7%, Broadcom gained 2.9% and Amazon climbed 1.3%. The only sector that struggled was utilities.

In company news, DocuSign shares have climbed more than 11% over the last five trading days following the news that it will join the S&P Midcap 400 Index tomorrow. Elsewhere, Tesla had a record-breaking quarter for China shipments, with deliveries from its Shanghai factory increasing for the third straight month, surpassing those of rival BYD.

Izolo, the JSE All-share was down 0.18%, the S&P 500 rose 0.71%, and the Nasdaq was 0.60% higher.

US markets bounced back yesterday, with big tech stocks making pleasing gains. Chipmakers led the charge again, and Nvidia has been up for five days in a row, for an overall increase of 14%. Elsewhere, in the less-exciting "smokestack industries", energy stocks fell due to a drop in oil prices.

In company news, The US Justice Department is back with its absurd suggestion that Google sell off parts of its business to reduce its dominance in the online search market. Google's share price did not budge on the news. Elsewhere, Honeywell rose 2% after announcing plans to spin off its advanced materials division. Lastly, Roblox initially fell 9%, but recovered to only close down 2%, following a statement from feared short sellers, Hindenburg Research, that they are shorting the gaming platform.

In summary, the JSE All-share was down 0.95%, but the S&P 500 rose 0.97%, and the Nasdaq marched 1.45% higher. Nice!

US markets ended lower yesterday, for no particular reason. There are always things to worry about, like geopolitical tensions and stubbornly high interest rates, and some days sellers outnumber buyers.

The "Magnificent Seven" group of stocks were down 1.9%, even though Nvidia gained 2.2%. Google sank 2.4% after more trouble from lawsuits. Amazon slid 3.1% on a downgrade from Wells Fargo Securities, and Apple dropped 2.3% after a Jefferies analyst grumbled about expectations for new iPhone sales this season.

In other company news, Generac rose 8.5% due to huge demand for backup power systems in southern states that are being pummelled by hurricanes. Garmin fell 4.1% after a downgrade from Morgan Stanley analysts, who think the athletic device maker's sales will shrink in the coming quarters.

At the end of the day, the JSE All-share was down a tiny 0.03%, the S&P 500 fell 0.96%, and the Nasdaq was 1.18% lower. Disappointing.

US markets ended in positive territory on Friday, with all three major indices closing higher. This was fueled by a stronger-than-expected September labour market report, showing 254 000 new jobs added and a slight drop in unemployment. Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq posted weekly gains.

In company news, Rio Tinto is said to be in discussions to acquire lithium miner Arcadium Lithium. If the deal goes through, it would position Rio as the third-largest lithium producer for EV batteries. Elsewhere, Nintendo shares climbed as much as 4.2% after a senior executive from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund mentioned that they are considering increasing their stakes in Japanese gaming companies.

On Friday, the JSE All-share was down 0.15%, but the S&P 500 rose 0.90%, and the Nasdaq was 1.22% higher. We remain in all-time high territory.

US markets ended slightly lower last night, after a choppy session. Oil prices remained volatile after their biggest one-day surge in nearly a year, on fears of damage to export facilities in the Persian Gulf. Most sectors of the S&P 500 were in the red but a few big cap tech stocks bucked the overall trend.

In company news, Nvidia gained 3.3% after CEO Jensen Huang said in an interview that demand for the company's new Blackwell chips is "insane". Tesla fell 3.6% after announcing a recall of over 27 000 Cybertrucks due to issues with their rearview camera. Finally, Spirit Airlines has been in talks about bankruptcy after its merger with JetBlue Airways fell through.

At the end of the day, the JSE All-share was down 0.75%, the S&P 500 fell 0.17%, and the Nasdaq was 0.04% lower. NBD.

US markets edged higher yesterday, while treasuries fell and the US dollar gained strength after some stronger-than-expected jobs data. Semiconductor stocks, including Broadcom (+1.9%) and Nvidia (+1.6%), performed well.

US companies hired more than expected last month, which contradicts other signs of a cooling labour market. All eyes are now on Friday's nonfarm payrolls report for more clues on the state of the economy. Fed officials will be watching closely too.

In company news, Tesla dropped 3.5% after missing third-quarter delivery expectations, with challenges stemming from fewer subsidies in Europe, increased competition, and rising consumer interest in hybrids over EVs. On the other hand, Salesforce gained 3.2% after Northland Capital Markets upgraded the stock to "outperform" and raised its price target to $400 from $270.

Izolo, the JSE All-share was up 0.57%, the S&P 500 delivered a marginal 0.01% gain, and the Nasdaq was 0.08% higher. Those are some tiny moves, lol.

US markets ended lower yesterday as the war in the Middle East worsened. Iran launched about 180 missiles at Israel, some of which evaded their defence systems, and a response is expected. Bonds, oil, gold, and the US dollar all gained. The tech sector had the toughest day, with Apple and Nvidia both dropping around 3%.

In company news, Nike fell 5.9% in after-hours trading following a revenue miss for the quarter, even though they smashed profit estimates. A new CEO is at the helm, and they are in recovery mode. Elsewhere, Kering (owner of Gucci) dropped 2.9% after Goldman Sachs downgraded it to "sell," which pulled down much of the luxury sector along with it.

In summary, the JSE All-share eked out a 0.08% gain, but the S&P 500 sagged by 0.93%, and the Nasdaq tumbled 1.53%.

US markets closed slightly higher yesterday, rallying in the final minutes of the day despite some wishy-washy comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell. He reiterated that the US economy is in good shape, and that rate reductions will happen gradually, whatever that means.

The S&P 500 wrapped up its fourth straight quarter of gains, the longest run since 2021, with the Nasdaq 100 also on a similar winning streak.

In company news, DirecTV is set to buy Dish for $1, and take on approximately $9.75 billion of Dish's debt. This deal will create the largest US pay-TV provider. Interestingly, the same transaction was blocked back in 2002, but the TV landscape is significantly different 22 years later. Elsewhere, crypto-related stocks took a beating after Bitcoin's latest rally fizzled out. Coinbase fell 6.8%, while MicroStrategy lost 4.3%.

At the close, the JSE All-share was down 1.18%, but the S&P 500 rose 0.42%, and the Nasdaq was 0.38% higher.

US stocks notched a third straight week of gains, despite a sluggish Friday. The S&P 500 has had its best first three quarters since 1997 with a 20% rise so far in 2024. We are pleased to be fully invested.

In company news, Dell fell 4.9% on Friday after ordering its employees to come back to the office 5 days a week. Elsewhere, Brazilian authorities fined Elon Musk's social media platform, X (Xhitter?), $1.9 million. Finally, Nvidia shares dropped 2.1% after reports that China is encouraging local firms to avoid using its chips.

On Friday, the JSE All-share was up 0.29%, the S&P 500 fell 0.13%, and the Nasdaq dropped 0.39%.

US stocks moved higher yesterday, thanks to more firm US jobs data. On top of that, the Chinese government committed to boosting fiscal spending, which is also market-positive. The commies are really rolling out the stimulus bazooka this week. The S&P 500 notched its 42nd record close of the year, and the Nasdaq also finished in positive territory.

In company news, chip designer Super Micro dropped 12.2% after the US Justice Department said it would probe the San Jose, California-based company. Elsewhere, Swedish fast-fashion giant H&M dropped 4.6% following an announcement that it would miss a key profitability target for the year due to rising costs, which impacted its third-quarter earnings as it battles with Shein and Temu.

Izolo, the JSE All-share was up 1.59%, the S&P 500 rose 0.40%, and the Nasdaq was 0.60% higher. Good times!

US markets went sideways yesterday. The S&P 500 pulled back from a record high set the previous day while the Nasdaq managed a slight gain, buoyed by strength in semiconductor stocks. Crude oil got crushed because Libya's eastern and western factions agreed to increase output. Haha, what a mess.

In company news, Micron Technology jumped 14.7% in late trading after delivering an unexpectedly strong sales and profit outlook. They say there's rising demand for AI-related memory chips. Elsewhere, "shopping as a service" company Stitch Fix had a major fashion emergency on Wednesday. It reported an earnings miss and its stock price plummeted nearly 40%. Its market value is now down at $277 million, a far cry from its $10 billion peak.

In conclusion, the JSE All-share was up 1.40%, the S&P 500 gave up 0.19%, and our favourite, the Nasdaq was 0.04% higher.