Middle East crisis pushing markets to breaking point, and SA will not be spared

Mar 24, 2026 · 1136 words · By Natale Labia

Fact-Check Results

“Carl von Clausewitz identified 'the fog of war' as an inescapable feature of armed conflict.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence in archive to confirm or refute Clausewitz's description of 'the fog of war'.

“The dithering president who started the calamity in the Middle East is enveloped in confusion and changes his mind frequently.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence in archive to verify claims about Trump's Middle East policy statements.

“The Bank of England opted to keep interest rates on hold, abandoning previous guidance on rate cuts.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence in archive to assess Bank of England's interest rate decisions.

“UK government bond yields reached 4.6% and 10-year yields breached 5% since the financial crisis of 2008.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence in archive to verify UK bond yield figures from the financial crisis era.

“South African 10-year bond yields peaked at 13% in 2023 and fell to under 8% last month.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence in archive to confirm South African bond yield fluctuations.

“The S&P 500 surged after Trump's tariff announcements in 2025, with the 'Taco' strategy being vindicated.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence in archive to verify S&P 500 movements related to 2025 tariff announcements.

“Gold prices fell 15% in a week, reaching $4,100 per ounce, marking the largest weekly decline since 1983.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence in archive to assess gold price declines or historical comparisons.

“The JSE All Share Index fell 20% in the current month after a prior rally.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence in archive to verify JSE All Share Index performance metrics.

“Retail investors are liquidating gold due to margin calls, contributing to its price decline.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence in archive to confirm retail investor behavior impacting gold prices.

“The sell-everything trade is back as markets experience sustained shocks and cash erodes due to inflation.”

❓ INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE — No evidence in archive to verify claims about market sell-off trades and inflation impacts.