logo
The Personal View: The Ceasefire That Isn't - August's Rising Risk

The Personal View: The Ceasefire That Isn't - August's Rising Risk

In my July article, 'Fragile Highs – July Is Vulnerable', I explicitly warned that what was being publicly described as a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was, in reality, a fragile pause, not a sustainable peace.
Lifting the illusory curtain of calm revealed, as warned, that while direct conflict has been avoided, indirect hostilities have intensified.
Military operations resumed across Gaza and Syria, reflecting a regional strategy of containment and escalation. Both flashpoints highlight ongoing efforts to counter regional influence through indirect conflict dynamics, without triggering confrontation.
Since April, The Personal View has issued multiple warnings, forecasting geopolitical instability through June and July: Tension between Iran and Israel
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war
Renewed US-China friction
Cyber and energy vulnerabilities
That outlook is now materialising.
Such periods don't just bring volatility; they cause gridlock. Delays, diplomatic bottlenecks, and miscommunication dominate. For governments and institutions, this is dangerous: decision fatigue and rising escalation risk.
Frustration will define August. For geopolitical actors, from Washington and Tehran to Moscow, Brussels, and Beijing, this is a month of diminishing patience and rising constraints. Tactical frustration risks strategic overreach.
While history never repeats perfectly, past moments of institutional strain offer sobering lessons: The 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, brinkmanship and communication breakdown
The 1951 Korean War escalation, regional conflict turned Cold War flashpoint
WWII's turning points, miscalculations that irreversibly shifted the global order
Not inevitable, each triggered by distrust, delay, and frustration. Today carries similar hallmarks.
What we are witnessing is not resolution, it is redirection. The Iran–Israel conflict hasn't ended; it has simply shifted form. Beneath the surface, tensions remain elevated.
August brings rising risk. Investors should position accordingly: Hedge exposures
Reduce fragility
Prepare for volatility spikes
Frustration fuels miscalculation. And August is built for both.
What are your thoughts on August's rising geopolitical risks and the fragile ceasefire? Share your views below!
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Weekly economic wrap: US tariffs come into effect, rand suffers, but recovers
Weekly economic wrap: US tariffs come into effect, rand suffers, but recovers

The Citizen

time3 hours ago

  • The Citizen

Weekly economic wrap: US tariffs come into effect, rand suffers, but recovers

With the US tariffs poised to hit this week, the rand fell to its lowest against the dollar but recovered by the end of the week. In what would normally would have been a quiet week on the economic front, the implementation of the Trump tariffs this week took all the headlines, especially since South Africa is stuck with a 30% tariff on goods exported to the US. Tracey-Lee Solomon, economist at the Bureau for Economic Research (BER), says increased bets on a Fed rate cut supported the gold price last week. 'Lower interest rates tend to boost non-yielding assets like gold, which is also benefiting from safe-haven demand amid rising concerns over a US economic slowdown. 'Recent data showed services sector stagnation, weak job growth and slowing consumer spending, partly linked to tariff-related pressures.' On the currency front, she says, broad US dollar weakness amid economic concerns helped the rand close stronger this week. The rand gained 1.7% against the dollar and 0.2%/euro and 0.4%/pound sterling. ALSO READ: US tariff an existential threat for a third of metals and engineering sector Solomon also points out that oil prices decreased after OPEC+ agreed on Sunday to increase oil production by 547 000 barrels per day for September, lifting fears of a global oversupply at a time when the US-led trade war is weighing on economic growth and energy demand. The potential ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine also put downward pressure on the oil price. Oil and gold react to US tariffs Bianca Botes, director at Citadel Global, says Brent crude is hovering near $66/barrel and is set for its worst week since late June as optimism around a potential Trump–Putin summit eased supply concerns. 'Sanctions on Indian oil imports from Russia and hints at broader tariffs on Chinese goods kept trade risks alive but expectations of higher output from the OPEC+ and slower demand growth weighed heavily.' ALSO READ: As if US tariff is not enough, more bad news for South African exporters Gold eased to about $3.380/ounce as traders took profits, although it remained on track for a second consecutive weekly gain, she says. 'Support came from the softer US economic outlook, tariff-related uncertainty and ongoing central bank purchases, including China's ninth straight month of buying. New US import duties on gold bars tightened supply prospects, adding a modicum of support to prices.' Rand looking much better despite dipping with US tariffs Botes says the rand strengthened to below R17.80/$, benefitting from a softer greenback and hopes for Fed cuts, although sentiment remained fragile as South Africa prepares for steep US tariffs on a wide range of its exports. Busisiwe Nkonki and Isaac Matshego, economists at the Nedbank Group Economic Unit, say the rand benefited from a broadly weaker US currency. 'Confirmation that president Cyril Ramaphosa had a telephone conversation with US president Donald Trump on Wednesday also buoyed the local unit. The rand was trading around R17.72/$ on Friday afternoon, from R18.05 last Friday. ALSO READ: Economic activity slowly improving although economic pressure persists They also believe that the oil price fell over the week after Trump indicated that he would be meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, although Putin has not honoured many of the US demands for a ceasefire with Ukraine. 'Higher prospects of the end of the Russia-Ukraine war have raised hopes of oil supply, pushing the oil price to $68.50 per barrel this morning. The gold price is higher at around $3 401 an ounce after reports that the US will reclassify gold imports, resulting in import tariffs being levied on 1 kilogram gold bars. PMIs are still looking up despite US tariffs The Absa Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) recorded its first expansion in nine months, increasing by 2.3 points to 50.8 in July. Among the sub-components, new sales orders increased significantly, up 9.7 points to 55.9. Nadia Matulich, economist at the BER, says this reflected stronger domestic and international demand. The supplier deliveries index also ticked higher, driven by the rise in orders, although some suppliers noted that regulatory issues had become significant supply chain bottlenecks. ALSO READ: US tariff of 30%: Rand weakest in 3 months, thousands of jobs in danger Manufacturers remained cautious amid ongoing global uncertainty. While business activity improved by 5.2 points, it remained in contractionary territory, which likely contributed to the decline in the employment index, down 6 points to 43.7. The purchasing price index rose again, pointing to mounting cost pressures. 'While current conditions suggest some resilience, the longer-term outlook has softened. The index tracking expected business conditions in six months fell from 62.5 to 56.4,' she says. S&P PMI in expansionary territory for the third month The S&P Global South Africa PMI, which includes the services sector, also edged higher in July, increasing from 50.1 to 50.3 and marking a third consecutive month in expansionary territory. Growth was supported by new sales orders and employment, with respondents reporting an uptick in client activity and a mix of both permanent and temporary hires. Matulich says the demand increase was driven primarily by domestic sales, with exports falling for the fourth straight month. 'Output remained broadly unchanged, but firms noted stabilising supply chains. This was reflected in higher purchasing, lower inventories and reduced backlogs. Input costs accelerated to a three-month high, but firms remained cautious about passing these costs on to consumers. Notably, business expectations over the next 12 months improved, recovering from a near four-year low in June.'

Alphamin Resources' major shareholder sells stake to International Resource Holding
Alphamin Resources' major shareholder sells stake to International Resource Holding

IOL News

time4 hours ago

  • IOL News

Alphamin Resources' major shareholder sells stake to International Resource Holding

Alphamin's Mpama South extension of the Bisie tin mine, in Democratic of Congo, went into first production in May 2024. Production resumed at the Bissie Mine in April 2025, after a decision was taken in March to evacuate the premises due to security concerns. Alphamin Resources, a tin mining company listed on the JSE and in Canada, has announced that its major shareholder, Tremont Master Holdings, sold 56% of its shareholding for approximately R6.5 billion to Abu Dhabi-based International Resource Holdings (IRH). In its results announcement on Friday, Alphamin said that Tremont Master Holdings sold the stake at C$0.70 (about R9.17) per share. The acquisition was completed by IRH through its wholly owned subsidiary, Alpha Mining LTD, on July 22, 2025. Tremont Master Holdings, a subsidiary of Denham Capital, a US-based private equity firm focused on energy and resources, will continue to hold 10,133,592 shares, which represents 0.8% of the total shares in Alphamin. Meanwhile, the company's Bisie Mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo resumed operations on April 9, 2025, following a decision to evacuate the mine on March 31, due to security concerns. Rebels had occupied the area surrounding the mine between March and April, but the Congolese army regained control of the area on April 3. South Africa's Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa owns 10.86% of Alphamin Bisie Mining. On Friday morning, Alphamin's share price gained 2.46%, reaching R12.50 on the JSE, although this is significantly lower than R13.41 a year ago. In the six months leading up to June 30, diluted earnings per share increased to 4.3 US cents from 3.01 US cents, marking a 42.8% increase compared to the same period last year. A dividend of C$0.07 per share was declared, up from C$0.06 per share declared at the same time last year. Revenue increased to $264.67 million from $213.17m. Operating profit rose to $103.84m from $85.59m, while net income increased to $66.37m from $47.41m. Cash and cash equivalents stood at $109.76m, a significant increase from $29.68m last year.

Could Trump tariffs become Bric-building blocks?
Could Trump tariffs become Bric-building blocks?

TimesLIVE

time6 hours ago

  • TimesLIVE

Could Trump tariffs become Bric-building blocks?

US President Donald Trump has the Brics group of nations directly in his trade war crosshairs, slapping super-high tariffs on imports from Brazil and India, and accusing them of pursuing 'anti-American' policies. Washington's relations with Brasilia and New Delhi have sunk to new lows. But this belligerence could backfire. The White House said on Wednesday it will impose an additional 25% tariff on goods from India, citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil. That brings the levy on most goods to 50%, among the highest rate faced by any US trading partner. Brazil also faces 50% tariffs on many of its US-bound exports, not because of trade imbalances, but because of Trump's anger at what he calls a 'witch hunt' against his ally, Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro, who has been charged with plotting a coup after his election loss in 2022. This breakdown in relations could be Trump's intention: push these countries to the brink so that they'll agree to trade deals that are heavily lopsided in Washington's favour. That strategy seemed to work with Japan and the EU. But hitting these Brics economies with eye-watering tariffs could push them closer together, strengthening the resolve of a group that appeared to be losing whatever momentum, purpose and unity it had.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store