Global News: The MSCI World Index has gained 0.4%, over the past week, while the MSCI Emerging Market (EM) Index fell by 1%. Since December 2016, the EM Index has risen by 13.4%, all in US dollar terms. In the US, shares continue to surge in reaction to Trump’s speech last week, strong consumer confidence,…
Global News: In 2017, the MSCI World Index has gained 5.4% in dollar terms while the MSCI Emerging Market Index has returned 9.5%, also in dollar terms. The JSE ALSI has returned 7.8% in dollar terms, so balancing in-between the two numbers. In the UK, the Office for National Statistics released their 2016 GDP fourth…
Global News: In 2017, the MSCI World Index is up 4.8% in dollar terms. The MSCI Emerging Market Index has gained 8.9% in dollar terms – this is its highest level since July 2015. The S&P500 Index has returned 5% in dollar terms in 2017 – this index has gained 12.8% since its low just…
In January 2016 South Africa was in the grips of a terrible drought with “no sign of abating”, and the South African Weather Service had just declared 2015 the driest year on record. While the rainfall has come, crops are shooting, with a bumper harvest now anticipated, we still have water restrictions in Gauteng and…
Global News: The global developed market MSCI World Index, has returned to its previous all-time high from May 2015. So far in 2017 the index has returned 3%, in US dollar terms, and it is up 22.8% from its low on 11 February last year. In the US, the MSCI USA Index is at an all-time…
Global News: In the US, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the President on, Friday, 20 January 2017. In China, import growth gained 3.1% year-on-year indicating healthy Chinese consumption, but export growth fell by -6.1% year-on-year. The CSI 300 Index, the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock index, was down -0.9% for the week and the Japanese…
Global News: In the US, share prices are at new highs – promoted by the strengthening economy, consumer confidence, anticipated profits and reduced taxes. US factory orders saw an increase that was slightly higher than expected at 2.7% month-on-month in October; it was expected to gain 2.6%. Overall, orders rose by 1.3% year-on-year, this is…
Global News: The MSCI World Index is just -1.3% from its record high, in dollar terms. It is 19.3% up from its low on 11 February 2016. In the US, Markit Composite Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) is at a healthy 54.9. The growth of durable goods orders was expected to be 1.7% but came in…
Global News: We have seen Mexico’s currency fall sharply since Trump was elected. The euro itself is trading near its lowest level versus the dollar in 13.5 years at $1.063 to the euro (hit $1.60 in 2008 and $1.50 in 2011). The Chinese currency is down -6.4% against the dollar so far in 2016, at…
