26 July 2026
Weekly Review: Markets Pause as Oil Surges and AI Optimism Faces Its First Test
Renewed Middle East tensions pushed Brent crude 11.52% higher to $98.25 a barrel and growing scrutiny of AI investment weighed on technology shares, sending the Nasdaq down 2.13%, while the South African Reserve Bank left the repo rate unchanged at 7.00%.
12 July 2026
Weekly Review: Geopolitics and AI Keep Markets on Edge
Renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities lifted oil and briefly unsettled markets, but renewed strength in semiconductor and AI shares helped U.S. equities recover, with the S&P 500 up 1.23% even as European markets fell.
5 July 2026
Weekly Review: U.S. Labour Market Cools
U.S. job growth slowed sharply in June, with payrolls well below expectations and prior months revised down, reinforcing signs of a cooling labour market as global equities ended the week higher.