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5 factors to drive this month’s interest rate decision

20 March 2018

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) meets on 26 - 28 March 2018 to deliberate an interest rate stance that anchors inflation to the middle of the 3 - 6% target rate. To gauge the risks to the inflation outlook, the MPC will consider the plethora of local and international economic trends that has emerged since its last interest rate decision in January.

Relief at Q4 2017 GDP figures

07 March 2018

Better than expected GDP figures for 2017 released today brought sighs of relief all round after an unquestionably tough year economically for South Africa.

GDP growth in 2017 better than expected

07 March 2018

Q4 2017 GDP came in much better than expected. The consensus forecast was for an expansion of 1.8% at an annualised rate, but the number came in far better at 3.1% annualised. Also, the previous three quarters’ numbers were revised slightly higher too. The fourth quarter number also significantly boosted GDP growth for the full 2017 calender year to 1.3%, vs. consensus estimates of below 1%. Interestingly, the technical recession, i.e., two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth, which occurred over the fourth quarter of 2016 and first quarter of 2017, was also revised away with the Q4 2016 number now a small positive.

Utility Eskom downgraded to 'CCC+' on ongoing liquidity concerns and insufficient government support; Outlook Negative

28 February 2018

• or default in the next six months despite securing South African rand (ZAR) 30 billion in short-term funding from local and international funders so far this year. • We now believe there is a lower likelihood that Eskom would receive extraordinary support from the government, reflecting our view that government support for the utility over the past few months has been insufficient given that the utility's liquidity concerns persist. • We are therefore downgrading Eskom to 'CCC+' and 'zaB' from 'B-' and 'zaBB-'. • The negative outlook points to uncertainty regarding the extent and timeliness of government support for Eskom over the coming six months, considering the magnitude of the utility's funding deficit and refinancing risks.

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Question

Do you think short-term insurance broking will survive the AI plus humanoid robotics age?

Answer

Human first always Not a chance Possibly maybe Yes, but reimagined

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