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Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has been a Vestact recommended stock since 2012. Over those 13 years it has returned around 150%, underperforming the S&P500 which was up 316% in the same period. Thanks to multiple lawsuits, a lack of innovative products and a complacent corporate culture, the J&J share price has even underperformed inflation over the last 5 years. We can do better.

We suggest you sell your J&J and use the proceeds to buy Eli Lilly. Eli Lilly seems to be doing everything right - they have new and innovative products, are growing fast and investing strongly in the future.

Please respond to this email and let us know if you are happy to make the switch. If you already have a large Eli Lilly position we may suggest you add to something else.

US markets had a bad day yesterday, with high-growth stocks bearing the brunt of the selloff. The S&P 500 wiped out all of its 2025 gains after Donald Trump stated that 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico are set to take effect on March 4, alongside plans for an additional 10% tax on Chinese imports.

In company news, Dell Technologies slipped 1.2% after-hours, despite delivering a bullish outlook. Elsewhere, Tesla is moving to secure approval for ride-hailing services in California, marking a key step toward carrying paying customers. Finally, Apollo Global is in talks to lead a $35 billion financing package for Meta Platforms to fund data centre development in the US.

At the close, the JSE All-share was down 1.13%, the S&P 500 fell 1.59%, and the Nasdaq was 2.78% lower. Disappointing, but not a calamity.

US markets emerged back into the sunshine yesterday, ending higher after a four-day losing streak. The gains were modest because afternoon trading was negatively affected by yet another tariff-related shock. This time Trump floated plans for a 25% tariff on the European Union. I suppose he's having fun?

Chipmakers led the charge, with Broadcom (+5.1%) and Nvidia (+3.7%) posting strong gains. After the closing bell Nvidia delivered another set of stellar results, beating both sales and profit expectations and issuing an upbeat outlook on its cutting-edge Blackwell AI server systems. The stock price will open at around $130 per share today, for reference purposes.

In other company news, Taser manufacturer Axon Enterprise rose 15.3% on strong forward-looking guidance. Elsewhere, Instacart tumbled 12.3% after the food and groceries delivery company reported weaker-than-expected fiscal guidance.

All in all, the JSE All-share was up 0.65%, the S&P 500 rose a tiny 0.01%, and the Nasdaq was 0.26% higher. Ah, that's better.

Sloppy conditions continued in the US last night, as markets slipped back from the all-time highs reached last week. Consumer confidence data was published yesterday, and it slid to a level last seen in August 2021. The tech-heavy Nasdaq extended its losing streak to four days. Nvidia dipped 2.8% but has its earnings release tonight. We are excited!

In company news, Eli Lilly rose another 2.3%, cresting $900 per share after launching a cheaper, single-vial version of Zepbound, its blockbuster obesity drug, to fend off copycats. Elsewhere, Krispy Kreme plunged 21.9% to a new record low after disappointing sales of doughnuts.

Here's the lowdown, the JSE All-share was up 0.38%, but the S&P 500 got clipped by 0.47%, and the Nasdaq sagged by another 1.35%. On we go.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq both stumbled midway through the trading session and ended in negative territory. Markets were pained by President Trump saying that tariffs targeting Canada and Mexico "will go forward" next week. We shall see.

In company news, Berkshire Hathaway closed up 4% after it reported good operating earnings in the fourth quarter, thanks to a solid performance from their insurance business. Elsewhere, Domino's Pizza's US sales fell short of expectations, underscoring the growing challenge of attracting budget-conscious consumers. Finally, Nike had a good day, up 4.9% after Jefferies analysts said it was "a good turnaround investment". It's about time.

At the end of the trading day, the JSE All-share was down 1.68%, the S&P 500 fell 0.50%, and the Nasdaq was 1.21% lower. Eish.

After a good start to the week, US markets took a hit on Friday, with Wall Street logging its worst session of 2025 so far. There was no particular reason for the decline, so pundits waffled about concerns like weak consumer sentiment and sluggish housing and services data. Cyclical sectors like transportation and small caps were particularly hard hit, and even the star-studded Magnificent Seven weren't spared, falling 2.5%.

In company news, payment company Block had a rough day, plunging 17.7% after missing fourth-quarter profit and revenue estimates. Elsewhere, Booking.com crushed last quarter's forecasts thanks to a busy holiday season, proving that wanderlust is still alive and well. The stock price is hovering near all-time highs.

On Friday, the JSE All-share was up 0.05%, but the S&P 500 fell 1.71%, and the Nasdaq was 2.20% lower. Oof.

US markets closed in the red last night, as stocks pulled back from all-time highs. An oddly disappointing forecast from Walmart (after releasing a stellar earnings report for 2024) raised concerns about the economy's main engine, consumer spending. Banking shares also weighed on the market, with JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs sliding over 4%.

In company news, German footwear company Birkenstock fell 4.7% after announcing faster sales of its high-end sandals and clogs, but not raising its financial targets. Elsewhere, Shake Shack rose 11.2% on strong hamburger sales and juicy margins. AppLovin flopped 8.9% after being targeted in a scathing report by short-seller Edwin Dorsey.

Izolo, the JSE All-share was up 0.60%, but the S&P 500 fell 0.43%, and the Nasdaq was 0.47% lower. It's ok, we'll live.

US markets ended the day in positive territory, with the S&P 500 inching to another record high. Healthcare stocks like Eli Lilly and Merck led the way, while most other sectors were mixed. Oil traders held their breath as meetings between the US and Russia commenced.

In company news, Prada is reportedly exploring a bid for Versace, working with advisers to assess the brand's value. Meanwhile, shares of craft goods retailer Etsy dropped 10% as it fell short of expectations in its fourth-quarter results. Finally, Palantir fell by 10.1% on reports that the White House has ordered the Pentagon to prepare for sweeping budget cuts.

In summary, the JSE All-share was down 0.81%, but the S&P 500 rose 0.24%, and the Nasdaq was 0.07% higher. A slow burn, but a win nonetheless.

US markets closed in the green last night, with chip stocks leading the charge to new all-time highs. The S&P 500 broke its January record, ending at 6 129.58 points. US-Russia talks fuelled optimism for a possible resolution in Ukraine, although the exclusion of Europe and the Kyiv administration from the process is baffling.

In company news, Nike (+6.2%) scored a slam dunk with its latest collab with Kim Kardashian's SKIMS. The sportswear giant is launching NikeSKIMS, a fresh activewear brand about empowering women to get moving. Elsewhere, Constellation Brands rose 3.95% after Berkshire Hathaway revealed an increased stake in the maker of Corona and Modelo beer. Lastly, medical device maker Medtronic fell 7.26% after missing revenue expectations in its last quarterly results.

Here's the lowdown, the JSE All-share was up 0.75%, the S&P 500 rose 0.24%, and the Nasdaq was 0.07% higher. Splendid!

US markets were closed for Presidents' Day yesterday, so there wasn't much going on. Defence shares rallied across Europe after leaders met in Paris to discuss beefing up support for Ukraine. UK PM Keir Starmer signalled a willingness to send peacekeeping troops to that country, while Germany hinted at a similar commitment.

In company news, TSMC is considering taking a controlling stake in Intel's factories at the request of Trump officials. The move aims to boost US manufacturing and tech leadership. Elsewhere, Moderna posted a quarterly loss as vaccine sales declined, and it took a hit from an unexpected charge on a cancelled manufacturing contract.

In short, the JSE All-share was down 0.36%. That's all.

US markets had a fairly muted Friday, with the S&P 500 hovering near record levels, but the Nasdaq closing solidly higher. For perspective, the overall index is now up 4% year to date. If you recall, 2022 was a complete washout, but the S&P 500 is now 70.9% higher than the low point reached on October 12, 2022. It pays to stay fully invested.

In company news, Meta Platforms extended its record streak, rising for a 20th straight session. Dell Technologies jumped 4.3% on reports that is is close to sealing a $5 billion deal with Elon Musk's xAI, to supply AI-optimised servers. Palo Alto Networks disappointed with its earnings guidance, in contrast to strong results from their cybersecurity peers.

On Friday, the JSE All-share was up 1.00%, the S&P 500 fell a tiny 0.01%, and the Nasdaq was 0.41% higher.

US markets zoomed higher yesterday, as some slightly more favourable inflation data was published, and Trump deferred some tariff measures. Only he seems to know what's going on. The S&P 500 inched closer to a record, and the MSCI World Index actually did hit a fresh all-time high. Among the big winners, Tesla rose 5.8%, CrowdStrike was up 4.4%, and Nvidia climbed 3.2%.

In company news, Apple closed 2% higher on confirmation that they are teaming up with Alibaba to bring AI to iPhones in China. Elsewhere, Deere fell 2.2% as it braces for a tough year. Lastly, Nestle jumped 6.2% after reporting a slight pickup in sales growth last quarter. People have to eat.

In short, the JSE All-share was down 0.11%, the S&P 500 rose 1.04%, and the Nasdaq was 1.50% higher. Nice one!

US markets had a mixed session as hotter-than-expected inflation data dampened hopes for Fed rate cuts. Stocks fell sharply out of the gate, but regained some composure later in the day. Tesla (+2.6%) led gains in megacaps, while Meta (+0.8%) extended its amazing winning streak to 18 sessions. The Nasdaq ended in the green.

In company news, DoorDash (+4.0%) , the largest food delivery platform in the US, projected first-quarter order volumes that came ahead of Wall Street expectations. Elsewhere, CVS Health surged 14.9%, their biggest jump in over 25 years, after a successful quarter under their new CEO David Joyner.

Izolo, the JSE All-share was up 0.43%, the S&P 500 fell 0.27%, but the Nasdaq crawled into the green with a gain of just 0.03%.

Yesterday was uneventful, with markets trading sideways. After a very good 2024, the S&P 500 has settled into a narrow range around 6 050 points. Jerome Powell had a drama-free appearance before the Senate, delivering his twice-yearly testimony to lawmakers. The Federal Reserve chairman largely reiterated the message that officials are in no rush to lower interest rates further.

In company news, Intel, the struggling chip-maker closed 6% higher on Vice President JD Vance's promise to make more AI systems and chips domestically. Elsewhere, Marriott International reported better than expected numbers but gave poor guidance for coming quarters due to slowing Chinese demand. Finally, Meta Platforms continued its epic run, rising for the 17th day in a row. Booyah!

In summary, the JSE All-share closed down 0.23%, the S&P 500 rose by 0.04%, and the Nasdaq ended 0.36% lower. Patchy.

Monday was a good day for markets, despite Trump's unveiling of tariffs on steel and aluminium imported into the US. Companies like US Steel, Cleveland-Cliffs and Nucor rose, while companies that use steel, like General Motors, fell. What a pain.

In company news, Meta Platforms set a new record, rising for 15 straight days in a row. Elsewhere, embattled Super Micro Computer announced that they will give a business update today, and shares soared 17.6%. Chip stocks like Nvidia, Broadcom and Micron rose, as Wall Street becomes comfortable with the idea that DeepSeek's low-cost AI gains will be good for the industry as a whole.

In summary, the JSE All-share closed up 0.33%, the S&P 500 rose by 0.67%, and the Nasdaq ended an impressive 0.98% higher. Ah, the joys.