Categories Trading
7 days
30 days
All time
Recent
Popular
UPDATE ON MARKETS: What an eventful start to 2021. Between short-squeezes and hedge funds blowing up, volatility was definitely on the forefront during January. FTSE/JSE All Share (JSE) improved by 5.21% during January, bringing the 12-month returns to 14.51%.
2/12
South African Large Caps dominated during January, growing by 5.41%. Mid Caps and Small Caps grew by 2.59% and 3.88%, respectively.
3/12
The FTSE/ JSE All Share (+1.95%) enjoyed a better month than the MSCI All Country World Index (-0.45%) again in USD terms. The 12-month performance for the JSE in USD-terms is now only lagging behind the MSCI ACWI´s performance by 3.7%.
4/12
The #FearandGreed #SouthAfrica #Index moved into GREED territory during January. For those followers who'd like to get more information on the Fear & Greed South African Index, can click here: https://t.co/bYOL5Bz2cf
5/12
Foreigners were net buyers of both SA Equities and Bonds during January. This makes foreigners buyers of SA Equities and Bonds for 3 months in a row now.

2/12
South African Large Caps dominated during January, growing by 5.41%. Mid Caps and Small Caps grew by 2.59% and 3.88%, respectively.

3/12
The FTSE/ JSE All Share (+1.95%) enjoyed a better month than the MSCI All Country World Index (-0.45%) again in USD terms. The 12-month performance for the JSE in USD-terms is now only lagging behind the MSCI ACWI´s performance by 3.7%.

4/12
The #FearandGreed #SouthAfrica #Index moved into GREED territory during January. For those followers who'd like to get more information on the Fear & Greed South African Index, can click here: https://t.co/bYOL5Bz2cf

5/12
Foreigners were net buyers of both SA Equities and Bonds during January. This makes foreigners buyers of SA Equities and Bonds for 3 months in a row now.

$ARPO Thread: Raz P2b glaucoma readout Dec 15 to Jan 15, assigning 90% POS, potential 3 to 5x, with (likely) partnership 1H21. Glaucoma dead for Big Pharma unless there’s a brand new MOA or pathway being targeted. Here we have both…a new MOA (Tie2) and a new location (SC)
https://t.co/zsc2eBVI4e Tons of great preclinical work on TIE2 MOA showing clear correlation to SC integrity, adult-onset glaucoma, and disease-modifying effects. See mosaic if interested
What do KOL's think of the new MOA: Special session held at ARVO 2019 to discuss Tie2 for Glaucoma. $ARPO then completed a closely watched P1b with a topical formulation. Now, a P2b trial in 195 pts enrolled within 3 mos, a month ahead of schedule, in the middle of a pandemic.
SOC is PG (-7 mm Hg IOP) +/- adjunct (-1 to -1.5 mm delta). Best efficacy adjunct is Rocklatan (-1.5), but AE profile: hyperemia (60 vs 15%), pruritus (8 vs 2%) site pain (20 vs 7%) vs PG , + other AE’s not seen with PG: 10% conjunctival hemorrhage, 15% verticillata. Almost DOA
But, sells $80 to $100M/yr US (same as $ARPO MC ha!). Every 0.3 mm reduction critical towards delaying vision loss. Rocklatan MOA was projected to make it a $1B drug, until AE profile (& payor delays) killed launch. $ARPO thesis: Raz efficacy >/= Rocklatan, without AE baggage.
https://t.co/zsc2eBVI4e Tons of great preclinical work on TIE2 MOA showing clear correlation to SC integrity, adult-onset glaucoma, and disease-modifying effects. See mosaic if interested

can you share the preclinical work you describe along with the papers?
— James Brandt (@jmsbrandt) November 20, 2020
What do KOL's think of the new MOA: Special session held at ARVO 2019 to discuss Tie2 for Glaucoma. $ARPO then completed a closely watched P1b with a topical formulation. Now, a P2b trial in 195 pts enrolled within 3 mos, a month ahead of schedule, in the middle of a pandemic.
SOC is PG (-7 mm Hg IOP) +/- adjunct (-1 to -1.5 mm delta). Best efficacy adjunct is Rocklatan (-1.5), but AE profile: hyperemia (60 vs 15%), pruritus (8 vs 2%) site pain (20 vs 7%) vs PG , + other AE’s not seen with PG: 10% conjunctival hemorrhage, 15% verticillata. Almost DOA
But, sells $80 to $100M/yr US (same as $ARPO MC ha!). Every 0.3 mm reduction critical towards delaying vision loss. Rocklatan MOA was projected to make it a $1B drug, until AE profile (& payor delays) killed launch. $ARPO thesis: Raz efficacy >/= Rocklatan, without AE baggage.
The guy I used to work with (I’ll call him “Q”) who shorted $TSLA at $600 in Dec called me today:
Q: Why is $TSLA up 6% on no news?
GB: Because it was down 8% yesterday on no news - unless you call a 10 bp rise in treasury yields and $BTC collapsing news. You still short?
2/ Q: Of course I’m still short. It’s up another 30% since we talked two weeks ago. It’s all mo’.
GB: $TSLA MIC Y has a 4 mo wait. It’s entering India. Analysts are playing leapfrog raising PTs. Active mgrs have to own it or get fired. It’s cheap at 80x 2022 EPS vs 55% growth.
3/ Q: Your earnings estimates are like twice consensus.
GB: The Street’s been wrong on $TSLA forever. Why do you listen to them? You really shouldn’t be short going into Biden’s inaugural speech and the FY’21 volume guide at the end of Jan. You’re going to get run over.
4/ Q: Whatever.
GB: Did you rent a Tesla for a week like I told you?
Q: No. You know I don’t drive.
GB: Did you build a $TSLA 5-yr volume, earnings, cash flow model?
Q: No. No one can forecast out 5 years.
GB: Did you talk to any Audi or BMW dealers? Or Tesla owners?
5/ Q: I don’t have time for that.
GB: Q, you haven’t done any real research. $TSLA ‘s up 40% since you shorted it. Maybe you should figure out why it keeps going up.
Q: It keeps going up because people like you are pumping it.
GB: You’re giving people like me too much credit.
Q: Why is $TSLA up 6% on no news?
GB: Because it was down 8% yesterday on no news - unless you call a 10 bp rise in treasury yields and $BTC collapsing news. You still short?
I had a two-day email exchange with a guy I used to work with who now runs a $600M hedge fund and shorted $TSLA at $600. He\u2019s now kicking himself as $TSLA approaches $700. Amazingly:
— Gary Black (@garyblack00) December 28, 2020
1/ He\u2019s a value investor who doesn\u2019t own growth stocks, but thinks he can short growth stocks.
2/ Q: Of course I’m still short. It’s up another 30% since we talked two weeks ago. It’s all mo’.
GB: $TSLA MIC Y has a 4 mo wait. It’s entering India. Analysts are playing leapfrog raising PTs. Active mgrs have to own it or get fired. It’s cheap at 80x 2022 EPS vs 55% growth.
3/ Q: Your earnings estimates are like twice consensus.
GB: The Street’s been wrong on $TSLA forever. Why do you listen to them? You really shouldn’t be short going into Biden’s inaugural speech and the FY’21 volume guide at the end of Jan. You’re going to get run over.
4/ Q: Whatever.
GB: Did you rent a Tesla for a week like I told you?
Q: No. You know I don’t drive.
GB: Did you build a $TSLA 5-yr volume, earnings, cash flow model?
Q: No. No one can forecast out 5 years.
GB: Did you talk to any Audi or BMW dealers? Or Tesla owners?
5/ Q: I don’t have time for that.
GB: Q, you haven’t done any real research. $TSLA ‘s up 40% since you shorted it. Maybe you should figure out why it keeps going up.
Q: It keeps going up because people like you are pumping it.
GB: You’re giving people like me too much credit.
Which developed country would you say is facing the biggest economic slump of all? The conventional answer is the UK. Eg see this @OECD forecast. But here's a thread about an obscure bit of statistical small print which might mean we've been overstating the scale of the recession
Before we get onto the small print let's deal with what the numbers are telling us. And there's no doubt they're bad. Very bad. Indeed, the @OBR_UK reckons we're facing the biggest slump in GDP since 1709. Down 11% this year alone.
We won't get final 2020 GDP for months (and even that'll be subject to revision). But on the basis of the 1st estimate of Q3 GDP UK contracted at annual rate of 9.7%. So you can see where OBR are coming from https://t.co/dXK7Mqx3Cd
* yes it was later revised; we'll get to that
In short: look at the headline GDP figures and it looks like the UK is facing an almost uniquely hideous recession. One of the worst in the world. That 9.7% fall is more than DOUBLE the fall in France, Germany and most other EU nations. Worse even than Spain (-8.7%).
This grim economic news has provided more fuel for those convinced Britain's COVID experience has been far, far worse than everyone's else - both in public health and economic terms. But I have for some time wondered about that chart 👆and whether it really makes sense...

Before we get onto the small print let's deal with what the numbers are telling us. And there's no doubt they're bad. Very bad. Indeed, the @OBR_UK reckons we're facing the biggest slump in GDP since 1709. Down 11% this year alone.

We won't get final 2020 GDP for months (and even that'll be subject to revision). But on the basis of the 1st estimate of Q3 GDP UK contracted at annual rate of 9.7%. So you can see where OBR are coming from https://t.co/dXK7Mqx3Cd
* yes it was later revised; we'll get to that
In short: look at the headline GDP figures and it looks like the UK is facing an almost uniquely hideous recession. One of the worst in the world. That 9.7% fall is more than DOUBLE the fall in France, Germany and most other EU nations. Worse even than Spain (-8.7%).

This grim economic news has provided more fuel for those convinced Britain's COVID experience has been far, far worse than everyone's else - both in public health and economic terms. But I have for some time wondered about that chart 👆and whether it really makes sense...
Every time I see tweets like these I think about the tech people I've met & the $500 Lanvins so many wear. Or the $1100 Owen kicks some of the CEO's wear. The shoes look like Converse but they cost like Gucci. Some cost more. They wear designer, just not the ones you know
The other thing a lot of them do? They have bespoke casual wear. So handmade t-shirts. Custom fit track suits. Hoodies that are designed specifically for them. Mostly a very specific kind of new money wears well known labels, but they all wear designer. Stop blaming clothes
The real difference between rich people and poor people is generational wealth. That's it. Your parents can afford to pay for your education. Leg up. You inherit property? Leg up. Your family can invest 6 figures in your start up? Leg up. Rich people in America have help.
They have help from before birth tbh. Because their grandparents contribute to college funds. They buy rental property & gift it to their grandkids. They had more than enough money for their own expenses so they left money. And the parents of rich people? Rich too.
It's not the Gucci belt that's a barrier to economic stability for people now. It's not having a time machine to undo the impact of 5 generations of poverty. Even the best "rags to riches, by my bootstraps" stories have generational wealth hidden in them. Usually a friend's.
Once y\u2019all get off social media y\u2019all gonna realize the average millionaire doesn\u2019t dress in designer. A lot of y\u2019all don\u2019t realize how many you encounter in your life because they don\u2019t ever dress or appear like one. Real estate changed my whole perspective of that.
— J (@J_realbidness) December 26, 2020
The other thing a lot of them do? They have bespoke casual wear. So handmade t-shirts. Custom fit track suits. Hoodies that are designed specifically for them. Mostly a very specific kind of new money wears well known labels, but they all wear designer. Stop blaming clothes
The real difference between rich people and poor people is generational wealth. That's it. Your parents can afford to pay for your education. Leg up. You inherit property? Leg up. Your family can invest 6 figures in your start up? Leg up. Rich people in America have help.
They have help from before birth tbh. Because their grandparents contribute to college funds. They buy rental property & gift it to their grandkids. They had more than enough money for their own expenses so they left money. And the parents of rich people? Rich too.
It's not the Gucci belt that's a barrier to economic stability for people now. It's not having a time machine to undo the impact of 5 generations of poverty. Even the best "rags to riches, by my bootstraps" stories have generational wealth hidden in them. Usually a friend's.