I had a particularly fun weekend at a wedding and met some Ghost Mail readers along the way, so I hope your weekend was as good as mine. Joyous as it was, I'm not sure the celebrations came anything close to what would've been experienced at Renergen last week, where they finally filled a container with helium. The share price has nearly doubled in the past week (including huge moves before the announcement came out - hopefully regulators will take a look at that) and is now flat year-to-date. Talk about volatility!

The concepts of risk and volatility are exactly why insurance companies exist, as we pay them a premium to take risks off our hands. When those risks don't materialise, the insurance companies have a great time. This is why we've seen better recent results from insurers, as natural peril claims were much better than in the prior period. Add in the impact of an effective growth strategy and you see the kind of numbers that OUTsurance just delivered to investors.

In other good news, SA Corporate Real Estate increased its distribution per share and is managing to sell off the acquired residential portfolio at great prices. We also saw a significant improvement in cash generation at York Timbers, along with the usual erratic performance in earnings thanks to accounting rules.

Libstar disappointed the market with news of a huge impairment thanks to loss of volumes in the food service industry. The issue seems to relate to beef. The market certainly has plenty of beef with Libstar, having watched the share price wash away over the years.

Also as part of a busy day of news, Thungela announced that it is buying out its co-investors in Australia, Choppies flagged an increase in earnings and ArcelorMittal sold property in Saldanha.

Get my analysis on all these updates (plus the Nibbles) in Ghost Bites at this link>>>

The latest Magic Markets episode helps you lift your head from the markets and consider an alternative asset class. The returns might be more volatile than your average equity portfolio, but at least you can enjoy your investment on your wall. Yes, with the help of Tristanne Farell at Investec, we covered the art of investing in art! Enjoy this fun and insightful discussion here>>>

Here's another head-lifter for you: Dominique Olivier's latest column! Remember the hole in the ozone layer? Ever wondered why you simply don't hear about it anymore? No news really is good news in this case, with this piece looking back on how the world came together to solve this problem. Treat as some inspiration to get your week off to the right start!

In case you missed it, make sure you've checked out the recent episode of No Ordinary Wednesday. Hosted by Jeremy Maggs and part of the excellent Investec Focus Radio stable, this episode focuses on whether China is Trump-proof. Find it here>>>

Have a great start to your week!

PS: if you're planning your diary for next week, be sure to include Unlock the Stock featuring Fortress Real Estate on Thursday 20th March at 12pm. As always, attendance is free. You just need to register here>>>

Regular readers will be well aware of the disruption in the car industry. All you have to do is look around you on the road. How many Chinese cars do you now see? When was the last time you saw a brand new BMW? It's hard to believe that a decade ago, the premium German sedans (3 Series and C-Class) were among the best selling cars in South Africa.

It's not just a South African issue, either. BMW has posted a 37% drop in annual net profit, which means their profit-to-front-grille-size ratio is surely at an all-time low. Of course, this is before the impact of tariffs is felt, so it's likely to get worse before it gets better.

Europe's exposure to this industry remains one of the biggest risks for that region, particularly as they now need to focus on growth to respond to the change in approach by the US.

The world is changing, fast. This is why we covered BAE Systems in Magic Markets Premium recently, as understanding elements of this defence theme is well worth your time. The company finds itself in an interesting position, with strong links into the US, European and allied military budgets. It's a better business than many of the continental Europe names, as reflected in the valuation. Our subscribers can enjoy our detailed work on this growth stock.

European index futures are trending higher this morning, buoyed partly by Germany's fiscal reset plan that includes substantial increases in state borrowing to strengthen defence and stimulate economic growth.

Asian equity benchmarks remain mostly unchanged this morning as markets consolidate following Friday's rally.

The US dollar lingered near a five-month low against major currencies on Monday, weakened by President Donald Trump's unpredictable trade policies and a series of disappointing macroeconomic indicators.

The JSE All-Share Index is expected to open flat this morning while the rand tracks sideways.

Oil prices surged over 1%, with Brent Crude reaching $71 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate hitting $67.94 per barrel. This increase is partially attributed to geopolitical tensions and worries about supply disruptions. Ongoing military operations against Yemen's Houthis have intensified concerns about potential supply constraints, further driving prices upward.

Gold prices remain near record highs, continuing to find support from persistent geopolitical tensions, growing expectations for US interest rate cuts and increased safe haven demand amid stagflation concerns.

Key Indicators: USD/ZAR R18.21/$ | US 10yr 4.30% | Gold $2,989/oz | Platinum $1,013/oz | Brent Crude $71.07

As often as practically possible, insights from the IG Markets morning macro update by Shaun Murison will be featured here. Where this isn't possible, only indicators will be provided. If you want to learn more about trading, refer back to The Trader's Handbook, a podcast series that takes you through many of the important principles in trading.