The Preamble

For the background to this series of posts: herehere and here. And the summary:

  1. Small investors have some investing options.
  2. You can invest occasionally in lump sums (the once-off investors) or monthly through debit orders (the monthly investors).
  3. As for things to invest in, I’m a general fan of low-cost equity-index-tracker ETFs (as is Warren Buffett). But there are other possibilities as well.
  4. This series of posts is there to see which would work out well.
  5. Then there are some indicators at the end. Because why not.

So.

The reason that today’s post is so late: I’ve spent the morning in a governmental office where my phone had to be switched off. And there was a guard whose entire job description involved going up to people and shouting at them for trying to whatsapp from behind their folders. Which seems like an odd thing to be so concerned with.

But who am I to judge? I’m just delighted to be out in the fresh air, and (fingers crossed) done with governmental offices for the year.

Sadly, my high point was not best echoed by the market place. The Rand is blowing out, the stock market is shaky, and gold and platinum prices are doing a tango of a death rattle.

What to say, really… Buy resources, perhaps, because they’re all so dastardly cheap? Or just weather the storm, go on holiday, eat mince pies, and wish joy to the world.

I vote with mince pies.

The week past:

Once-Off Investors

In numbers:

Week 39 Once Off Table

In pictures:

Week 39 Once Off Graph

Monthly Investors

In numbers:

Week 39 Monthly Table

In pictures:

Week 39 Monthly Graph

The Indicators

Week 39 Indicators

The exchange rate:

Week 39 ZAR USD Exchange Rate

Government bond yields weakened:

Week 39 10 Year Govt Bond

The Stock Market:

Week 39 ALSI ZAR

In real terms, ghastly:

Week 39 ALSI USD

Commodity prices fell:

Week 39 Gold Platinum USD

Even for the ZAR producers here in SA:

Week 39 Gold and Platinum ZAR

Some commodities fell worse than others:

Week 39 Crude USD

Even if slightly less badly in ZAR terms:

Week 39 Crude ZAR

Until next time!

Rolling Alpha posts opinions on finance, economics, and the corporate life in general. Follow me on Twitter @RollingAlpha, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rollingalpha.