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

2026-07-24 16:37 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective

Major U.S. stock indexes rallied Friday as oil prices fell 4% to $95/barrel on reports of potential U.S.-Iran peace negotiations brokered by Pakistan and China. The Dow gained 0.7%, S&P 500 rose 0.6%, while the Nasdaq barely moved up 0.1%. Apple boosted the market, but American Express and SK Hynix declined on earnings concerns. Investors await four more Magnificent 7 earnings reports next week to assess AI infrastructure spending trends.

Axe note: Falling oil prices on diplomatic progress ease pressure on rand and local energy shares.

2026-07-24 16:30 • The Motley Fool Neutral Axe Cap view: Selective

A $10,000 investment in Tesla stock 10 years ago would have grown to $252,400 today, representing a 2,420% return. Tesla's growth from an automotive startup to an EV leader, with deliveries increasing from 14,400 cars in Q2 2016 to over 480,100 in Q2 2024, has driven massive revenue expansion. However, the stock's valuation at a P/E ratio of 343 suggests future success is already priced in.

Axe note: A $10,000 bet on Tesla 10 years ago turned into $252,400, but is it too late for local investors to jump in?

2026-07-24 16:20 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective

XRP, currently trading at $1 after a 70% decline over 12 months, could reach $4 within five years if it achieves a 30% compound annual growth rate. While dollar-pegged stablecoins have eroded XRP's primary use case in cross-border payments, Ripple's $3 billion acquisition strategy and expansion into real-world asset tokenization could drive recovery. XRP previously reached $4 in 2018 and $3.65 in 2025, demonstrating the price level is achievable.

Axe note: XRP looks cheap after a brutal drop, but local relevance and risks temper enthusiasm.