2019 is already looking like a rollercoaster ride

It's only the fourth day of this year, and it's already shaping up to be a crazy one.

The S&P 500 slumped on Thursday after Apple released a dire sales warning.  Tech and media shares fell in response to Apple's struggles, then the rest of the market followed, with 10 of 11 S&P sectors down. Looking ahead, with the US government still shut down, the new Democratic-led House coming in eager to challenge President Donald Trump, and worries about the pace of interest rate increases and a slowing housing market growing, there's plenty of food out there for the bears.

Meanwhile, in South Africa, the JSE wrapped up its worst year in a decade with a reasonably good start to this new year – the All Share Index was trading up a hair on Thursday and more or less flat so far for the year. But, with the rand touching a three-month low Thursday before recovering, it's clear that markets are on eggshells and it won't take much to tip them over the edge.

In other words, buckle your seatbelts.