⚖️ Budget Boost: A Rare Win for Taxpayers 🇿🇦💰

This week kicked off with a surprisingly investor-friendly South African budget — and markets initially loved it.

Key Changes:

After years of "tax by stealth," this budget offered real relief — especially for investors and small businesses.

Data from NinetyOne & Morningstar suggests:

Simon has funded his tax-free — but hasn't deployed it yet 👀

💻 Dell Delivers 🚀

Strong results from Dell Technologies sent the share price soaring ~20%.

US markets don't play gently — they reprice fast and aggressively.

🌍 Oil Shock: War & Market Volatility 🛢️🔥

The geopolitical narrative changed dramatically.

Escalating conflict involving Iran has rattled global markets — with oil at the center.

Key Developments:

About 20% of global oil supply passes through the Strait. Any prolonged disruption:

Possible Scenarios:

South Africa imports ~70% of its crude — so oil + rand = inflation risk.

📌 Key message: Don't panic. Stay long-term focused.

🚗 Vehicle Sales: Still Surging 🚙📊

February 2026 vehicle sales surprised again:

Strong growth continues — particularly from Chinese brands gaining market share.

Despite geopolitical risk, domestic demand remains resilient.

🤖 AI + Investing: Deep-Dive into SaaS 📈

Simon continues experimenting with AI tools like Claude & Perplexity for fundamental research.

SaaS Sell-Off = Opportunity?

Basket explored:

Preferred picks: ✅ Salesforce ✅ Adobe ✅ Intuit

AI-generated DCF models suggest potential upside between 40–75% (based on last week's pricing).

Key insight: Replacing enterprise software isn't about code — it's about retraining millions of users.

🎯 Final Thoughts

Markets are volatile. War introduces uncertainty. Oil is the key risk variable.

But:

If you've got time on your side — don't stress your portfolio.

See you next week 👋

Budget Boost, Oil Shock | SA's Two-Speed Week that Changed the Narrative