US earnings firepower drives markets higher

Inflation re-emerged as a key market theme during July, with both South Africa and the United States facing renewed price pressures, largely driven by higher energy costs stemming from continued geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Despite the high readings, central banks on both sides of the Atlantic elected to leave interest rates unchanged.

Oil markets experienced a sharp reversal in June following a deescalation of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East between the US and Iran. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most strategically important shipping routes, with more than 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports typically passing through the narrow waterway. The conflict severely disrupted shipping activity, leaving hundreds of merchant vessels stranded in the Gulf and reducing traffic through the strait to a fraction of normal levels.

Die oliemark het in Junie ‘n skerp ommekeer beleef nadat geopolitieke spanning in die Midde-Ooste tussen die VSA en Iran afgeneem het. Die Straat van Hormuzbly een van die wêreld se belangrikste strategiese skeepsroetes, met meer as 20% van wêreldwye uitvoere van ruolie en vloeibare aardgas (LNG) wat normaalweg deur hierdie smal waterweg vervoer word.