Markets reversed course on Tuesday as growing concerns about the operational status of the Strait of Hormuz weighed on risk sentiment. Reports that Iran has been slow to implement the agreed shipping corridor reopening pushed investors back toward safe-haven assets, with gold and the US dollar both strengthening. 🥇 Gold (XAU/USD): Safe-Haven Bid Returns Gold […]
Daily Market Update: 14 April 2026 – Ceasefire Optimism Fades as Markets Settle Into New Reality
South African markets opened the new week on a measured note as the euphoria of last week’s US-Iran ceasefire announcement continued to dissipate. With the two-week ceasefire now entering its fifth day, investors are shifting focus from relief to reality — and the reality includes a Strait of Hormuz that remains operationally constrained. 🥇 Gold […]
Daily Market Update – 1 April 2026
📊 Market Snapshot – 1 April 2026 Markets rallied sharply on Wednesday as ceasefire hopes in the Iran conflict lifted risk appetite globally. Wall Street surged, oil prices retreated from recent highs, and gold continued its safe-haven run above $4,700/oz. 💱 Forex Rates Pair Rate Direction 🇪🇺 EUR/USD 1.1565 ↑ 🇬🇧 GBP/USD 1.3237 ↑ 🇯🇵 […]
Daily Market Update: 1 April 2026 — Q2 Opens With Fuel Shock & Iran De-escalation Hopes
As Q2 opens, markets are digesting a turbulent March and watching closely for signs of de-escalation in the Iran conflict. Here’s your morning briefing for 1 April 2026. 💱 Forex Snapshot Pair Rate Move 🇺🇸 USD/ZAR 16.89 ⬇️ -0.22% 🇬🇧 GBP/ZAR ~22.10 📊 Watch 🇪🇺 EUR/ZAR ~18.50 📊 Watch The rand recovered to R16.89/$ after […]
Market Recap: March 2026 — Oil Shock, Gold Crash & the Quarter That Changed Everything
March 2026 will be remembered as one of the most dramatic months in recent financial history. What began as a continuation of the bullish momentum from early 2026 was violently upended by the eruption of the Iran crisis in late February, which escalated into a full-blown geopolitical and energy shock that reshaped every major asset […]
Daily Market Update: 31 March 2026 — Quarter Ends With Iran Crisis, Gold Crash & Rand Pressure
Good morning from Old Mutual Secunda! Here’s your daily market update for Tuesday, 31 March 2026 — the final trading day of a turbulent quarter. 💱 Forex Snapshot Pair Rate Direction 🇺🇸🇿🇦 USD/ZAR 17.18 📈 Rand under pressure 🇪🇺🇿🇦 EUR/ZAR ~18.75 📈 Euro strength 🇬🇧🇿🇦 GBP/ZAR ~22.30 📈 Sterling firm The rand is trading around […]