Vestact-recommended pharma stock Amgen released pleasing numbers on Tuesday night and its share price shot 10% higher on Wednesday. This share hasn't done much over the last two years, so that was pleasing. Over five years, it has risen by only 38%, although it does pay a juicy 3% annual dividend. Amgen is probably the most boring stock that we own. Talking about osteoporosis drugs at a braai might put your listeners to sleep.

Quarterly revenue was up 12% to $9.6 billion, driven by strong growth in all their leading brands. Of particular importance was a 40% increase in sales of Repatha, a cholesterol drug, to $794 million. The stronger-than-expected sales allowed the company to raise its full-year guidance, something that Wall Street loves to see.

Amgen's future will be very closely linked to its own weight loss drug, MariTide, which is going through final medical trials. Its unique selling point is that you would only need a monthly injection. Two mid-stage results are expected to be released before the end of the year, which will set the tone for Amgen's outlook going into 2026.

If the MariTide drug trials don't meet the required goals, we would consider selling Amgen. We will keep you updated as the results come in. For now, enjoy this week's result win.

It's Friday again, and time for some life advice. Just the thing for an investment newsletter with over 7 300 subscribers. You are a captive audience, sorry.

It's become commonplace to tell people to "live in the moment". This is fine, as an antidote to being distracted, on your smartphone, plonked in front of your TV, or asleep. Some of us need reminding that we only live once, so you should pay attention. Live life to the fullest, stop and smell the roses, etc, etc.

I have a different suggestion, try this instead: "live for tomorrow morning". To enjoy a good life, you need to be organised. So, focus on what you'll need to be doing in 12 hours' time. Let the present take care of itself.

Some suggestions: make a task list, plan your next work day, prepare the ingredients for your next two meals, put out your kit for the morning run, tidy your desk, pack your bag, and water the pot plants. Then take your meds, and go to bed early.

In other words, get your sh1t together. Let me know how it goes.

In early March this year, the shock of the Trump tariffs started doing the rounds and the market got jittery. A client called me and said she wanted to sell her whole portfolio in anticipation of a potential crash. I advised her to stay fully invested, which she agreed to. The market proceeded to fall by 20% over the following two weeks. Oops.

But it turned out to be the right decision. Her portfolio is now 14% higher than when we had that phone call. If she had sold before the crash, I can almost guarantee that she would not have bought back in so quickly. My guess is that she would have felt chuffed with her decision while the market fell, but getting back in when things were so uncertain would have been very difficult.

The market went on to recover quickly and then blasted past the pre-tariff levels. She would probably have stayed in cash, kicking herself that she didn't get back in during the dip. Most likely she would still be in cash, would have paid unnecessary taxes, brokerage and would have missed out on all the upside.

The market is looking jittery again this week and I have no doubt that anxious clients will start reaching out. My advice will be the same. Stay invested and ride through it because timing the dips and recoveries is near impossible.

A Buddhist saying suggests that if you meditate to "get" peace, you won't find it. That paradox translates well to money. If you chase returns, eyes on the prize, jaw clenched, then you'll probably miss the mark.

The research is boringly clear: materialism drags mood, health, and satisfaction; money helps mostly when it buys security, time, or shared experiences.

So, here are three tweaks to consider:
(1) audit your motives. Making money "to support my people" is better than "to beat my peers".
(2) Practice modesty arbitrage. Pick the second-best car and the non-flashy watch. You'll remember who owns whom.
(3) Spend money quietly on time with those you love. No Instagram posts, no performances, just presence and good old fun.

Stop trying to buy happiness, and you give it room to rally on its own.

Joburg is in a bad way. Years of neglect won't be fixed by a cosmetic facelift for the G20 - Property sector chaos as syndicates raid abandoned City of Joburg plans archives.

A self-driving Waymo ran over a cat in San Francisco. The internet is freaking out - Maybe AI is not at 'super-intelligence' level yet, that's ok.

Asian markets are mostly lower this morning, mirroring Wall Street's overnight declines. Australia's ASX is modestly weaker, dragged by Block (-14%), Zip (-5%) and Appen (-4%). In Japan, losses are sharper with SoftBank down nearly 8%, while Kanadevia, Taiyo Yuden, and Ajinomoto are plunging between 16% and 19%.

In local company news, Motus is revving up its Australian operations by adding more Chinese car brands to its dealer network, mirroring a global trend of strong demand for affordable, feature-packed vehicles from BYD, Chery and Great Wall.

Last night, 75% of Tesla shareholders voted to approve Elon Musk's $1 trillion pay package. He accepted it to applause from those attending the AGM.

US equity futures are slightly in the red pre-market. The Rand is trading at around R17.40 to the US Dollar.

Have a great weekend. See if you can stay up to watch the Springboks take on France in Paris on Saturday night.