The Money Shot

It seems like the markets are not loving the renewed talks of China/US trade wars and the seizing of the British “fuel smuggling” tanker by Iran in the Strait of Homuz. Anthea explains that, as well as sharing the good news of the SA Reserve Bank cutting interest rates and Ford committing to creating 1,200 new jobs as they ramp up their new plant here in SA. She also reports on EOH, Pioneer Foods and PepsiCo. To wrap things up, she discusses how Netflix has fallen 12% in after-hours trading on Wednesday after indicating that it had lost subscribers in the US for the first time since 2008.

The market is swinging in all directions while the Rand is constantly flirting with the 13 handle to the USD, but can’t seem to settle on this figure. Woolworths releases a trading update which is in line with what was expected. Health is important and FNB’s banking app now rewards good well-being. The CEO of the Stringfellow Group hands himself over to the police in Honeydew, following allegations that he may have misappropriated hundreds of millions in client funds. Plus, more on Richard Branson’s space-tourism venture, Virgin Galactic.

With Gareth away, the rest of the team take up this week's finance conversations with Anthea, starting with a look at trading volumes and US non-farm payrolls. Congratulations go out to Christine Lagarde and Phuti Mahanyele-Debengwa on their new positions. Anthea then unpacks Eskom’s debt for government bonds or ring-fencing it in a special account, before giving details of escalating battle between Peter Moyo and Trevor Manuel. She wraps things up by helping a listener find out more about Karatbars.

With the beginning of July signalling the mid-point of the year, Anthea reports on the JSE closing the first half of 2019 in positive territory, despite a weak economy - an economy that remains stuck in its longest downward cycle since 1945. She also looks at the formal sector adding 22 000 new jobs in the first quarter of 2019, Daniel Mminele’s resignation, the petrol price, and Steinhoff looking to recover R870m from Jooste. The new #PayBackTheMoney - Discovery Bank - gets discussed, too.

The US Fed has left rates unchanged, but signalled that they are prepared to cut rates. On Wednesday the European Central Bank (ECB) surprised the market by signalling an increased likelihood of rate cuts (although rates are already at record lows) and stimulus measure. South Africa’s May 2019 CPI inflation rate came out at 4.5% y/y (April 4.4% y/y). Multichoice reported core HEPS up 10% to 410cps, which was roughly the mid-point of the range given in the recent trading update. Naspers has released its results for the year to end March. KAP reported a core HEPS decline of 8% for FY19, which is an unexpected disappointment, especially in light of the 6% growth achieved in H1. And Facebook announced the launch of its cryptocurrency, Libra.

How has the bombing of the two Japanese oil tankers in the strait of Hormuz by the Iranians impacted the economy? Anthea explains it to the team, before looking at emerging markets, mining production and Business Confidence. She also touches on Naspers rising, even though Tencent fell in Hong Kong. She concludes with an analysis of Beyond Meat, a Los Angeles based producer of plant-based meat substitutes.

While Anthea is away, Henry Biddlecombe takes her seat to give an update on finance and the markets. He breaks down what operating leverage - this incredibly boring-sounding accounting term - has to do with your portfolio. Then, he also weighs out whether the Beyond Meat IPO is something to get excited about. Lastly, he gives his take on the tech you can invest in without burning your fingers.

CPI Inflation (4.4%) was below mid-point of the SARB’s target range, and yet they still left rates unchanged! Want to find out what that is all about? Anthea discusses it, along with giving her take on companies reporting and massive corporate CEO shake ups. There've been big movers and other noteworthy results. To wrap things up, she discusses the resignation of UK Prime Minister Theresa May.