#geopolitical-uncertainty

#geopolitical-uncertainty

The latest profit warnings data reflects the scale of persistent uncertainty and how heavy it continues to weigh on UK businesses. While this uncertainty has been a recurring theme since mid-2024, it has intensified so far this year - driven largely by geopolitical tensions and policy shifts - compounding pressure on both earnings and forecasts.

South African equities started the day with modest gains, with the JSE FTSE Top 40 Index nearing the 90,000-point mark due to strong performances in energy minerals, distribution services, and utilities.

The Eurozone economy exceeded forecasts in Q1, showing a 0.4% growth supported by the European Central Bank's monetary policy and pre-tariff exporter activity.

The euro is under pressure due to the widening gap between US Treasury yields and German bunds, the highest since last May, accentuating ongoing economic instability.