Okay, so let’s dive into this whole market thing. I mean, where do we even start? Oh right—Warren Buffett. The guy finally steps down as CEO at 94! Like, he was born to lead Berkshire or something. Greg Abel’s got some big shoes to fill. And, can we just make a note? Berkshire A shares went absolutely ballistic, like up 44,000% since forever ago. Apparently, they never paid dividends, just gobbled up their own shares instead. Buffett’s legacy is all about keeping it simple and cash flow, cash flow, cash flow. Fun fact: most of his money came after he was 65. Yeah, slow and steady wins the race, or whatever they say.
Now, let’s talk about getting rich (or maybe not) by buying quality stuff—companies, I mean. You know, reasonable prices, compounded growth, blah blah blah. He doesn’t chase shiny things, just sticks to the basics. There’s a guy in South Africa, Chris Seabrooke, who folks say is like a mini-Buffett or something.
Oh, and the “sell in May and go away” thing. Seriously, who came up with that? Simon tore it apart, called it a nursery rhyme. Numbers say it’s bunk. S&P doesn’t care about your calendar, apparently. Timing the market is just asking for trouble. But hey, you do you.
Then there’s the oil scene. OPEC’s cranking up production, pushing Brent down to about sixty bucks a barrel. Sounds good for folks filling up their tanks, but Sasol might not be thrilled. Lower prices could backfire on US fracking too. Is it a political game to help Trump? Eh, who knows?
Now the Rand is doing its dance, hanging around R18.24 to the US dollar. Exports are up, gold’s glittering again, and there’s talk it might dip to R17 if it keeps up. Fingers crossed?
Ah, gold. Our glittery friend is back over $3,000 after a stumble. Central banks are buying, and folks are worried about inflation or a maybe-recession. Oh, and there’s the FOMC bit this week. Everyone’s sitting tight, expecting no rate change. Simon’s got beef with SARB’s hawkish vibe, ‘cause SA inflation’s pretty chill.
Palantir. The results are big, but the risks? Oh boy. Revenue shot up 39%, but the stock? It’s a rollercoaster. Lots of chatter, and Peter Thiel’s vision is what you’re betting on, not exactly the “metrics.”
And that’s that. Did I miss anything? Simon’s got ungeared positions if you’re curious. All those charts and discounts are there if you want to dive deeper. But remember, nothing here’s gospel; everyone’s got their own lane. Alright, let’s wrap it up. More chatter next time!
