With the markets all over the place and practically impossible to predict, Moe is busy with a day-trading strategy and Ghost has bought a few dips, ranging from technology through to golf.

Is there method in this madness? What is really going on out there? And should we be thinking more and more about China?

Volatility can be wild, but it's also a key feature of the markets and a very exciting time for those who like to see action on the screens. In this episode, our passion for the markets really shines through. We invite you to join us.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not financial or investment advice. Please speak to your personal financial advisor.

The first quarter of the year was an unhappy one for most consumer stocks. Tariffs are top of mind, as is the pressure that many brands have been facing in China. Inflation is a risk and consumer sentiment is weak. Against this backdrop, is there opportunity in this sector, or is it better to sit this one out and let the volatility do its thing?

And does it make a difference to look at discretionary vs. defensive stocks?

Find out in this episode of Magic Markets.

As we continue to look beyond the US to demonstrate the opportunities available elsewhere in the world, our gaze turns to Africa. Firmly a currencies story, it's all about whether the macroeconomics will improve in 2025. This is what some of the banking groups have predicted, so South African corporates with African exposure will be hoping that this comes to fruition.

But which South African listed companies are these? Which ones stand to benefit? And in line with a broader offshore theme for South African companies, what are the typical features of successful acquisitions vs. those that have failed?

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not financial or investment advice. Please speak to your personal financial advisor.

These days, the narrative has shifted from US Exceptionalism to one of punters working through the list of European companies to try and find something exciting to buy. Defence stocks seemed to be where momentum traders found their desired home, with incredible returns in those stocks.

But what about the rest of Europe? Is there something there to justify this Europhoria? Are there other place to look, like China?

And are you willing to allow Moe to invent the term Amexit?

All this and more in this episode of Magic Markets! 

Tristanne Farrell isn't shy to admit it: she's mildly obsessed with art. As a Senior Wealth Manager at Investec Wealth & Investment International, her day job is to help clients build diversified, successful portfolios. Thankfully, with art as one of the more interesting (and certainly most visually stimulating) alternative assets out there, she gets to enjoy some overlap between her passion and her career.

As the host of the Art in Focus podcast series, part of the excellent Investec Focus Radio offering, Tristanne is no stranger to podcasts. She joined us to talk about art as an investment, bringing a mix of genuine passion and solid insights into this asset class. And of course, at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, you get a chance each year to see this in action.

Ready for something different? Listen to this episode dedicated to the world of art. If you enjoy it, be sure to check out the Art in Focus series for more insights. 

If there's one thing the markets taught us recently, it's that gold remains as relevant as ever. Mesh Trade brings you a new way to invest in this store of value, giving you a perfect example of tradition combined with tech.

For a limited time, Mesh investors can buy Krugerrands at the best retail price in the market and on a fractional basis using blockchain technology. Mesh also offers a wide range of tokenised financial assets, giving investors a multi-asset solution on a single platform.

To learn more about the investment case for gold, Mohammed Nalla will be presenting on a Mesh Trade webinar on 10th March. Registration is free at this link>>>

Mesh Trade (Pty) is a licensed Financial Services Provider, FSP number 53710. Please do your own research and remember that nothing you hear on Magic Markets is advice, nor should you treat this as an endorsement.

Having covered MercadoLibre in Magic Markets Premium this week, we had Latin America on the brain. Combined with the mess around the South African budget speech (or complete lack thereof), this triggered the idea to consider whether the reforms seen in Argentina under Javier Milei could work in South Africa.

Moe certainly took this assignment seriously, with a detailed discussion on the approach taken in Argentina and exactly which bits might work in South Africa - and which ones are a step too far! The conversation then evolved into points around the effect of reforms on growth and the ability for platform businesses to scale effectively within South Africa.

Wandile Sihlobo is an agricultural economist, an advisor to President Ramaphosa and one of the leading voices in the agriculture space in South Africa. We value his balanced views and his approach to what he does, so we invited Wandile to join us at a time when South Africans are divided rather than united.

Dealing with topics like expropriation, the view of Afrikaans commercial farmers in response to the US approrach to offering refugee status, the rate of transformation in land ownership as well as common misconceptions around AGOA, this is a hard-hitting discussion that adds to the current discourse in South Africa.

As always, our goal is to drive constructive debate. This podcast is well worth your time, as Wandile is a true expert in this space. As South Africans, the most important thing we need to do is keep talking.

For companies seeking capital, founders wanting to exit their stake and investors who desire diversification and solid returns, private debt and equity markets offer a vibrant ecosystem. Dino Zuccollo of Westbrooke Alternative Asset Management joined us to discuss activity across the capital stack and some of the key trends coming into 2025, as well as the general levels of adoption of this asset class in South Africa and abroad.

To learn more about Westbrooke and to connect with the team, visit their website here.

Westbrooke Alternative Asset Management is an authorised Financial Services Provider, FSP number 46750.

Given the widespread impact on the companies that we follow, it's hard to ignore the geopolitical fires that are raging around Trump and the countries that he has been targeting. Canada, Mexico and now South Africa - is anyone safe?

Of course, these issues are nuanced and the relative negotiating power of each country becomes relevant. In this show, we talk about the response of Canada (where Moe has a front-row seat) and Mexico, as well as Ghost's concerns around how this is all coming at a bad time, with South Africa's economic recovery still in its infancy.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not financial or investment advice. Please speak to your personal financial advisor.