Post-election market boost? Bharti mulls listing, Trump's tweets roil markets

[Click here for the web version of this email]( [FIRST THING With John Stupart]( Monday, 6 May 2019 “People shouldn't be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.” Alan Moore, V for Vendetta Story of the Day [Markets don’t care about elections. Or do they?]( By Sasha Planting [Like the election itself, South Africa’s markets are in a quandary. The economy is in a poor state, but SA’s stock markets are verging on record levels. That quandary poses a difficult question: What are SA’s markets anticipating — and what will happen if their expectations are dashed?]( ON THE MONEY Currencies R/$ = 14.35 1.28%▲ R/€ = 16.24 1.02%▲ R/£ = 18.90 0.23%▲ BTCR = 85400 -0.84%▼ * At 5am or latest close Markets JSE All Share = 597336 1.01%▲ DJIA = 26505 0.75%▲ Oil = $69.77 -2.12%▼ Gold = $1279 -0.00%▼▲ WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING [India’s Bharti Airtel Plans to Kick Off IPO of $5-Billion Africa Phone Unit]( Suddently everybody wants to tap the markets. Now Bharti Airtel Ltd., India’s second-biggest wireless carrier, is preparing to kick off the initial public offering of its Africa unit in a deal that could raise about $1-billion. [Yuan Plunges, US Stock Futures Drop on Trade War]( Typical Trump move. Just when we thought a deal was in the offing, US President Donald Trump takes to Twitter. As a result, [China’s yuan plunged the most in more than three years and equity markets were roiled after Trump’s threat to increase tariffs on Chinese imports cast a cloud over talks this week that were expected to finalise a trade deal.]( [Private Equity's Returns Questioned Again, This Time by Buffett]( Private equity firms, which are attracting record amounts of investor funds, have for years faced criticisms that they game their returns. Over the weekend, billionaire Warren Buffett joined the chorus. [Monday May 6: Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day]( Trump ramps up the pressure on China with threat of more tariffs and market sentiment takes a hit, while Warren Buffett discusses buybacks and critiques private equity. Here’s what’s moving markets. Start #spreadingthenews and boost quality journalism! [Start up your own referral page]( and stand a chance to win some great prizes. In Numbers 20 The number of slushie machines installed in New Zealand prisons last year Fact of the Day In celebration of Star Wars Day on Saturday (you know, May the Forth be with you, and all that) comes the news that a Darth Vader costume may fetch $2-million at auction Cartoon Monday BY Rico Featured Articles [The dividend/growth balance: Anglo’s truly amazing debt turnaround]( BY Ruan Jooste [We should not give in to cowardice – Mavuso Msimang]( [We should not give in to cowardice – Mavuso Msimang]( By Tessa Knight Opinionistas [State wage bill symptom – not cause – of government malaise]( BY Xolisa Phillip [Whatever you do on 8 May, don’t not vote]( A column by Wayne Duvenage [The Economist’s unconscionable endorsement of the ANC]( A column by John Steenhuisen [Press Freedom: The moment we tolerate bullies, we also sanction an attack on our democracy]( A column by William Bird Weather BFN: min: 11° max: 25°, sunny CPT: min: 12° max: 18°, sunny DBN: min: 19° max: 27°, rainy EL: min: 19° max: 22°, rainy JHB: min: 11° max: 23°, sunny MHK: min: 11° max: 27°, sunny NLP: min: 13° max: 31°, cloudy PE: min: 16° max: 21°, cloudy PMB: min: 14° max: 27°, sunny [FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO A FRIEND]( [Fb] [Tweet] [Link] [Yt] Copyright © 2019 Daily Maverick, All rights reserved. You are receiving this mail because you are awesome and on the Daily Maverick First Thing subscriber list. Interested in advertising with us? [Click here to sign the pact.](mailto:advertising@dailymaverick.co.za?subject=Advertising%20query%3A%20First%20Thing%20Mailers) [Getting too many emails from us? Manage your preferences]( [Unsubscribe](