Clear market notes built around the JSE, the rand, and what matters locally.

2026-08-10 02:30 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective

Trump's new tariffs on 60 countries face legal challenges from 25 states and are expected to be struck down by courts, similar to previous tariff rulings. Despite tariff concerns, the S&P 500 has risen 5% since the announcement. The article recommends two international ETFs for investors seeking global diversification: the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF and the Vanguard Total World Stock ETF, with the latter being the author's preferred choice due to its broader diversification across 10,000+ stocks.

Axe note: US tariffs targeting dozens of countries are unlikely to survive court battles, making global diversification more crucial for South African investors.

2026-08-10 02:15 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective

Sandisk's stock has surged over 3,000% in 12 months, trading above $1,200 and making it a textbook candidate for a stock split. While the company has not announced any split plans, the article notes that a split would not change the underlying business fundamentals. The real investment story remains AI-driven memory demand, with Sandisk's performance dependent on sustained NAND pricing strength and data center demand.

Axe note: Sandisk's 3,000% surge highlights memory demand tied to AI, but local investors should watch USD/ZAR and NAND prices closely.

2026-08-10 01:30 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Selective

SpaceX reported strong Q2 earnings with 92% revenue growth to $7.8B, driven by Starlink's $4.3B revenue and AI infrastructure's 247% growth to $2.6B. However, the company faces significant operating losses of $542M and massive $16B capex spending in AI. While connectivity is profitable, the AI segment remains unproven at scale. At a P/S ratio of 73, SpaceX's $1.4T valuation embeds lofty assumptions. Historically, mega-IPOs see 42-55% drawdowns in their first year, and analysts caution that further volatility is likely unless SpaceX demonstrates sustained profitability and capital efficiency.

Axe note: SpaceX’s stellar revenue growth masks a costly AI bet and deep losses, setting a risky stage post-IPO.