1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 🎙️ Worldwide Markets Ep. 652 — “Dividends, Gold, and Gearing Gone Wild” 📅 15 October 2025 | Hosted by Simon Brown | Powered by Standard Bank SHYFT 🪙 Gold Rush Continues Gold is unstoppable! 🚀 Now trading above R4,100/oz, the yellow metal has clocked eight consecutive green weeks — the longest winning streak since early 2024. Simon digs into: 📈 Historical patterns since the pandemic: jump → consolidate → jump again 🏦 Central banks as persistent buyers — but what happens if they ever stop? 🤔 With gold having doubled in three years, central banks’ reserves are now worth far more — will they slow purchases? Gold weekly chart 🧬 ASP Isotopes &amp;amp; the Renegen* Deal 🔥 The small-cap buzz continues! ASP Isotopes (📊 JSE-listed) soared 34% after being added to a Morgan Stanley National Security Index, thanks to its defense-related tech. 🧪 ASP will acquire Renegen at a ratio of 0.09i ASP shares per Renegen share. 📈 The stock was badly mispriced at listing, now settling into realistic levels. 🧠 Simon’s take: it’s partly a meme stock, but still delivering products and momentum. 🌍 Tariff Turmoil &amp;amp; Trump Tactics 🗞️ Trump shocked markets promising 100% tariffs on China, triggering a: 📉 2% drop on the S&amp;amp;P 500 📉 3% drop on the Nasdaq …before walking it all back two days later. Classic “art of the deal.” 🎭 💬 China’s latest export data (+8.4% YoY) shows resilience, finding new global buyers despite tensions. 💥 Crypto Carnage: Over-Geared Traders Wiped Out 📉 Bitcoin slid 10%, altcoins dropped 20–50% — and many over leveraged traders got liquidated. Simon’s tough love 💬: “If a 10% move wipes you out, you’re not trading — you’re gambling.” 🎲 He explains gearing simply: 💰 10× gearing = a 10% drop → total wipe out. 💰 50× gearing = just a 2% drop → goodbye capital. Crypto’s already volatile — no need for extra leverage. 💸 JSE Large Caps: Great Dividend Yields Following last week’s small-cap value picks, Simon scans big JSE names offering strong income 📊: 🏦 Banks Nedbank (9%) – solid and cheap. ABSA (8%) – attractive and trading below NAV. Standard Bank (7%) – quality but pricier. FirstRand (5.2%) – premium quality, lower yield. Investec (6.5%) – decent, but less excitement. 🏭 Industrials &amp;amp; Commodities Tungela (50%) – monster yield, but coal outlook uncertain. Omnia (special dividend) – mixed on chemicals. AVI (9%) – steady margins, strong chart 📊. Tiger Brands (7%) – turnaround story under new management. Reunert – defense &amp;amp; cabling play; value emerging. 🏠 Property Equites, Growthpoint, Fairvest, Hyprop, Resilient – 6–8% yields, but NAV discounts vary. 🎰 Leisure &amp;amp; Retail Sun International (10%) – betting becoming core growth area 🎲 Mr Price* (4%) – comeback potential. Woolies (2.5%) – still struggling with fashion 👗 Shoprite* (2.7%) – premium, low yield. 💼 Asset Managers Old Mutual (9%), Coronation (8%), Sygnia – benefit from rising markets. Alexander Forbes – solid income play. 📡 Telcos &amp;amp; Others Telkom – undervalued, post-Swiftnet debt cut, potential MTN suitor 📶 Grindrod – ports booming, Africa trade tailwinds 🌍 Bitvest (4%) – cash generative, debt manageable, chart support at R200. 🧾 Key Takeaways ✅ Gold’s bull market still strong — no legs down yet. ✅ ASP Isotopes &amp;amp; Renegen merger heating up. ✅ Beware leverage — crypto is wild enough. ✅ Dividend stocks offering serious income on the JSE. ✅ Buffett Power Hour this Thursday — don’t miss it! 💼✨ 🎧 Worldwide Markets is powered by Standard Bank Global Markets, Retail &amp;amp; SHYFT — 💳 The global money app for travel, shopping, payments, and investments, with the lowest Forex rates. 👉 Subscribe to Worldwide Markets wherever you get your podcasts. 💬 Follow Simon on Twitter/X: @SimonPB Simon Brown * I hold ungeared positions. All charts by KoyFin | Get 10% off your order WorldWide Markets with Simon Brown http://www.justonelap.com <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/38577390/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/439341/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/item/38577390