Weaver Fintech deep dive

You’re going to see some changes to Ghost Mail and the broader ecosystem that I’ve built.

The reason is simple: the online noise has become unbearable.

Every day, my feed is assaulted by AI slop. Everything must be faster and more, instead of being sensible and well-considered. Expert voices are being drowned out by yet another automated post.

The social media algorithms are feeding this beast (or is it the other way around?), with posts having no value after being out for a day.

Now add on an army of tech enthusiasts who have outsourced their brains to AI and you have a world in which your inbox and social media feed is being treated like a trough for pigs.

It’s not even a guarantee that mails can reach you anymore. Gmail and Outlook can decide on a whim to put Ghost Mail into a folder of death (like j*nk mail - I’m too scared to even type out the word). Even if you’ve opened the mailer every day since forever, that decision can be made on your behalf - and with predictable results for my open rate.

What is the motivation for anyone to keep doing high quality work that is free to read? I honestly don’t see how most good work won’t disappear behind paywalls in years to come.

My dream was always to bridge the gap between sell-side analysis and traditional financial media. Most of all, I wanted to do this in a way that doesn’t exclude people.

This has been made possible only because of wonderful long-term partners like Satrix, Investec, Capitec and Forvis Mazars, as well as many others who undertake campaigns from time to time.

Companies that place their results on the platform and sponsor a podcast appearance also play a huge role - and they do it without ever asking me to compromise my independence. I’m so grateful for those who recognise what I’m trying to do and look for ways to support it.

Because of these great partners, I can still do this without needing to ask you to pay. In return, you should make time for what they are bringing you, especially as each podcast is also an excellent learning opportunity.

For now at least, the economic model of Ghost Mail isn’t the problem. The issue is that I’ve stopped having fun. And if it’s not fun anymore, then what am I even doing?

So, from here onwards, I’m going to make sure that I’m enjoying my work. If it isn’t fun to write, then it won’t be good to read. If it isn’t good to read, I’m disrupting myself by being blind to my own concerns.

Instead of being in a blood red ocean of competition, I will continue to look for blue oceans - just like I did six years ago when I started the business. This is going to include in-person events where attendees apply to attend. More on that to come.

In the interests of having fun and bringing you insights that you definitely aren’t getting on the socials, I’ve covered just one company in Ghost Bites today: Weaver Fintech.

I own it myself and I think the latest results deliver an incredibly valuable look at the state of the SA consumer. These results deserved way more than just a standard Ghost Bite. I do hope you enjoy it!

Be sure to also check out the latest from DealMakers, including the usual assortment of local deal summaries. You’ll also find a piece on how investors are placing greater value on simplification and what that means for M&A strategies.

Finally, after I asked readers to pick just one name between Shoprite and Pepkor for the retail crown, it was Shoprite who came out on top with 59% of the vote.

Have a lovely Friday and I look forward to being back in your inbox on Sunday for Weekender!

The S&P 500 pushed into new high territory as another soft inflation print (PPI) lowered the pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates. The Nasdaq gained as well, although the Dow lagged its peers.

Futures markets and Asian equity markets are, however, mostly lower this morning. Tech is a bit weaker in early trade, and in China the property sector is weighing.

Oil has started to gain again on the angst of the deadlocked and ongoing war in the Middle East. The US rotation of its warships around the Strait, the suggestion of an indefinite blockade, and the Trump administration's threat of further economic pressure on Iran again raise the question of whether short-term resolution is even possible.

The dollar index has started to rebound this morning, while gold retracts further from its short-term highs.

The rand is slightly softer today, and we are expecting a flat to negative start for the JSE All Share Index.

This update is provided by Shaun Murison, Senior Market Analyst at randswiss.com. Connect with him on LinkedIn here and follow him on X here.

Key Indicators: 

USD/ZAR R16.20/$ | US 10yr 4.65% | Gold $4,332/oz | Platinum $1,723/oz | Brent Crude $88.41