February 2025 saw market volatility, with resilience tested by earnings surprises, policy shifts, and economic uncertainty. Nvidia fell 7% after releasing its Q4 results, while the U.S. intensified its tariff rhetoric, targeting tariffs of 25% on EU, Mexico, and Canada and 10% on China (effective March 4).
Domestically, failure to adopt the 2025 Budget highlighted the fiscal strain weighing on consumers. Debt has climbed to 75.4% of GDP (R5.9 trillion), with spending pressures and declining per capita GDP weighing on investor sentiment.