R5.4 billion gaming boom in South Africa, and Anthropic CEO dines with Trump

The rand was trading at R16.36 against the US dollar on the morning of Monday, 28 September 2026, slightly weaker than where it closed on Friday.

South African equities ended last week lower, with the JSE All Share Index down by 0.66% and the Top 40 Index down by 0.65%.

The South African Reserve Bank moved to raise interest rates by 25 basis points to 7.25% last week in response to inflation risks linked to the war in Iran and fuel prices.

On Wall Street, indices ended higher, with the Nasdaq up 0.48%, the S&P 500 up 0.51%, and the Dow Jones up 0.93%.

Gains were driven by AI-linked technology shares such as Microsoft, despite persistent geopolitical tensions and high Treasury yields.

European markets broke their three-week losing streak with the STOXX 600 advancing 0.4% last Friday, and 0.5% for the whole week.

In Asia, markets opened cautiously as investors continue to monitor US-Iran tensions. The Hang Seng was down 1.01%, while the Nikkei 225 was up 1.31%.

In the commodities market, Brent crude oil increased to around $107 per barrel on reports that US President Donald Trump rejected an Iranian peace proposal.

Meanwhile, gold fell over 2% to $4,183.91 per ounce as rising oil prices reinforced inflation expectations and the prospect of further Federal Reserve rate tightening.

On Monday morning, the rand was trading at R16.36 to the US dollar, R18.63 to the euro, and R21.67 to the British pound,

Important finance and investing news

Anthropic CEO dines with Trump: US President Donald Trump held a private dinner at the White House on Sunday evening with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, in what is being seen as a seminal moment in the relationship between the AI company and the US administration after months of clashes between the two parties with regard to safety concerns and AI oversight. [Wall Street Journal]

R5.4 billion gaming boom in South Africa: South Africa’s gaming industry is experiencing a surge in growth, driven by mobile connectivity nationwide, with 90% of gamers in South Africa and across Africa playing games on mobile devices. Local developer Sea Monster estimates the local industry will be worth $333 million (R5.4 billion) by the end of 2026. [BusinessDay]

South Korea yields hit four-year high: South Korea’s three-year yields rose to their highest levels since November 2022 as the local bond market reopened after the holidays, jumping 11 basis points to 4.11%. This is the latest in a series of global selloffs as elevated oil prices reinforce inflation concerns. [Bloomberg]

Foreign investors pump money into US equities: Net purchases of US equities and investment fund shares by foreign investors hit a record $426 billion during the second quarter, as these investors increasingly buy into the AI boom. Semiconductor firms have seen dramatic swings as they increasingly warn about the risks posed by rapidly advancing AI technology. [Semafor]

R146 million NHI tender scandal: The Department of Health has escalated allegations of inflated NHI advertising contracts to the Special Investigating Unit, the Auditor-General, and the Public Protector, after reports that the cost of the contracts rose from R1,620 to R146 million, draining funds from other essential medical programmes. [The Citizen]