Everyone loves the concept of disruption – until it’s their life that’s being turned upside down. In truth, the human condition craves routine. Investment markets even more so as they thrive on certainty. Little wonder the world’s biggest equity markets are celebrating a promised return to normality after four disruptive Donald Trump years and nine months of Covid-19.
Also read:Â Alec Hogg: Corporate SA is reaping its ANC cadre deployment sowing
Last night SA time was the first opportunity US investors had to react to the replacement by a 77-year old moderate of a president whose speciality seemed to be causing chaos in the global economy. The appreciative mood was supported by news of a breakthrough against Covid-19 from drug company Pfizer after a large trial concluded its soon-to-be-available vaccine was 90% successful.
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The vaccine news caught Mr Market by surprise, boosting share prices of companies most affected by the lockdown. These winners were led by a 39% surge in the price of cruiseline operator Carnival Corp with many other travel companies, airlines, retailers and banking stocks enjoying their best session this year. At the other end, Mr Market smacked pandemic beneficiaries with Zoom losing 17% and Netflix dropping 8.5%.
Also read:Â Alec Hogg: Stocks soar as Mr Market excited by likely US election result
Our partners at the Wall Street Journal say the rally also reflected reduced uncertainty surrounding the US election results. Although not yet certain because of a run-off election for the two Georgia Senate seats in January, analysts expect the Democrat-controlled White House will be balanced by a Republican-ruled Senate. This would ensure implementation of new president Joe Biden’s market friendly policies, while higher taxes and more regulation wouldn’t happen. Welcome back to the old new normal.
For your attention today…
WEBINAR ALERT…
* Tomorrow at noon we have a special webinar focusing on how to get a US Green Card with Matt Hogan of CMB Regional Centers, which for over 20 years has been securing EB-5 visas for people wanting to relocated to America. Click here to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2883703850607113232
* And in the Thursday Noontime webinar, Tim Modise has a very special show planned for us when he hosts iconic SA business leaders Dr Sam Motsuenyane and Prof Wiseman Nkuhlu. One not to miss. Click here to register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1324111475714234383
FOR DOWNLOADING…
* Yesterday’s Rational Radio webinar with Capitec CEO Gerrie Fourie was a reminder of the incredible job last year’s Businessman of the Year has done for shareholders: the Capitec share price is up six-fold since he took over in January 2014. You can watch the full webinar here:Â https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDFf5nNp5Qo&t=29s
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