Equities surged in May while the Rand stabilised

The JSE had a bumper month and year-to-date.

- CHRIS HARMSE

Given all the growing uncertainties on the global and domestic geo-political front, investors and the public expected the worst for the share and foreign exchange markets during the month of May.

Given the Trump administration's chop-and-change announcements in the trade war between the US and other countries, like China, Canada, and European countries, as well as the jittery South Africa/US relations, it was expected by many members of the public that the economy and financial markets would go from better to worse.

In contrast, share prices on the JSE reached record high levels and their best annual five months since the 2020 Covid-Virus equity downward streak, and all the main indices recorded growth of above 10% since the beginning of the year.

Prospects for share and capital markets