Market overview
The FTSE/JSE All Share closed last week at 111 973.20, increasing by 2.87%. The basic materials sector was the biggest contributor increasing by 5.59% during the previous week, while the consumer staples sector lost the most ground, decreasing by 1.32% over the same period.
Looking at the MSCI indices, developed markets increased by 0.31% during the previous week, while emerging markets increased by 0.47%.
Drop in SA unemployment
The South African unemployment rate eased to 31.9% in Q3 2025, the lowest level since 2024, compared to 33.2% in Q2, marking the first decline this year. The youth unemployment rate, which measures jobseekers between 15 and 24 years old, fell to a two-year low of 58.5% in Q3.
SA Mining surprises
Mining production in South Africa increased by 1.2% over a year ago in September 2025, following a revision of August’s data to show no change and better than analysts’ estimates of a 0.4% fall. The main positive contributors were PGMs, gold, and coal. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, mining output advanced 2.2%, the most since May, after a revised 0.9% decrease in the previous month.
Thanks to PPS Investments for the weekly Market Overview
Financial Indicators by Sharedata.co.za
MTBPS boosted market sentiment to set new records
The Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana in his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) has highlighted certain burning issues that analysts, economists, investors, and fund managers were eager to hear. Read the full IOL Business Report article here>
Ratings upgrade ‘a positive signal’ ahead of G20/B20 – JSE boss
S&P Global Ratings’ sovereign ratings upgrade of South Africa just ahead of the big G20 Leaders’ Summit and corporate-led B20 event “sends a positive signal of progress”, says JSE Group CEO Leila Fourie. Read the full Moneyweb.co.za article here>
Why the rand is in retreat
After hitting its best levels in almost three years, the rand has retreated back above R17.00 to the dollar, again facing a tough resistance level and a more sustained break into stronger territory. See the full article in BusinessTech here>
Gold steady as traders await US data
Gold prices inched higher on Monday as investors waited for a series of US economic data this week that could shed more light on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate path. See the latest report form BusinessDay here>
Oil falls after loadings resume at key Russian export hub
Oil prices fell on Monday, erasing last week’s gains, as loadings resumed at the key Russian export hub of Novorossiysk, after a two-day suspension at the Black Sea port that had been hit by a Ukrainian attack. See the Reuters article here>