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

2026-09-27 14:30 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates in September with expectations for another increase in October, reversing earlier predictions of rate cuts. The article recommends two ETFs positioned to thrive in a rising-rate environment: ProShares Equities for Rising Rates ETF (EQRR), which tracks stocks with high correlation to Treasury yields and returned 31% year-to-date, and iShares Core High Dividend ETF (HDV), which focuses on high-quality dividend stocks and returned 16% year-to-date.

Axe note: Fed hikes have shifted the spotlight to yields and dividend strength, shaping smarter JSE bets.

2026-09-27 11:30 • The Motley Fool Positive Axe Cap view: Selective

Ladder Capital, a commercial mortgage REIT, offers an attractive 10% dividend yield but has underperformed with only 4.7% average annual returns over the past decade. Despite past struggles from pandemic-related office sector exposure, the company has significantly repositioned its portfolio, achieved investment-grade status, and now trades at a 30% discount to book value. The analyst argues it represents a real opportunity rather than a value trap, citing expectations for earnings growth and dividend increases.

Axe note: Ladder Capital’s high dividend yield looks enticing, but its decade-long weak returns make it a cautious play.

2026-09-27 11:30 • The Motley Fool Mixed Axe Cap view: Selective

The article examines the AI safety debate between industry leaders, with Anthropic CEO calling for slower AI development while others like Elon Musk and Jensen Huang oppose new regulations. The debate centers on whether guardrails will help establish market stability or prematurely anoint winners. Key concerns include IPO delays at OpenAI and Anthropic, and uncertainty about how regulation will impact the broader AI market and investor confidence.

Axe note: Tensions over AI regulation abroad ripple through the rand and local tech sentiment.