Economic information that works for you ResearchWeeklyCommentsResearch NotesAd-Hoc researchS.E.EStellenbosch Working Paper Series BER Weekly (Archive) Short report that reviews important global and domestic financial market and economic data developments of the past week. The BER Weekly is released on Monday mornings. 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 BER Weekly, 20 January 2020 Last updated: Jan 20 2020 12:49PM With activity levels starting to pick up after the holidays, there was some relief that load shedding was absent last week. Besides the SA Reserve Bank’s (SARB) unexpected 25bps interest rate reduction (discussed in the domestic section), local newsflow read moreWith activity levels starting to pick up after the holidays, there was some relief that load shedding was absent last week. Besides the SA Reserve Bank’s (SARB) unexpected 25bps interest rate reduction (discussed in the domestic section), local newsflow focused on potential further private sector job losses, with a number of companies reporting that retrenchments may be inevitable in the current poor growth environment. Internationally, China and the US signed the first phase of the newly negotiated trade deal. This could be important for China, which saw its economic growth rate slow down to a 29 -year low in 2019. Meanwhile, with the exception of the manufacturing sector, the US economy seems to be weathering the trade storm. Among other factors, this was reflected in recent strong retail sales numbers. In financial markets, resource companies on the JSE did well last week as the price of platinum group metals (PGMs) continued to surge and the rand exchange rate weakened. BER Weekly, 13 January 2020 Last updated: Jan 13 2020 10:32AM If the first two weeks of 2020 are anything to go by, it is likely to be another extremely challenging year for the SA economy. Hope of an acceleration in real GDP growth towards 1% is already fading, with forecasts being revised down. The BER macro forecast read moreIf the first two weeks of 2020 are anything to go by, it is likely to be another extremely challenging year for the SA economy. Hope of an acceleration in real GDP growth towards 1% is already fading, with forecasts being revised down. The BER macro forecast will be updated this week against the backdrop of renewed electricity load shedding at the start of the year, the resignation of Eskom chairman Jabu Mabuza as the power utility becomes entangled in ANC factional battles, and renewed global geopolitical uncertainty.
BER Weekly (Archive) Short report that reviews important global and domestic financial market and economic data developments of the past week. The BER Weekly is released on Monday mornings. 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 BER Weekly, 20 January 2020 Last updated: Jan 20 2020 12:49PM With activity levels starting to pick up after the holidays, there was some relief that load shedding was absent last week. Besides the SA Reserve Bank’s (SARB) unexpected 25bps interest rate reduction (discussed in the domestic section), local newsflow read moreWith activity levels starting to pick up after the holidays, there was some relief that load shedding was absent last week. Besides the SA Reserve Bank’s (SARB) unexpected 25bps interest rate reduction (discussed in the domestic section), local newsflow focused on potential further private sector job losses, with a number of companies reporting that retrenchments may be inevitable in the current poor growth environment. Internationally, China and the US signed the first phase of the newly negotiated trade deal. This could be important for China, which saw its economic growth rate slow down to a 29 -year low in 2019. Meanwhile, with the exception of the manufacturing sector, the US economy seems to be weathering the trade storm. Among other factors, this was reflected in recent strong retail sales numbers. In financial markets, resource companies on the JSE did well last week as the price of platinum group metals (PGMs) continued to surge and the rand exchange rate weakened. BER Weekly, 13 January 2020 Last updated: Jan 13 2020 10:32AM If the first two weeks of 2020 are anything to go by, it is likely to be another extremely challenging year for the SA economy. Hope of an acceleration in real GDP growth towards 1% is already fading, with forecasts being revised down. The BER macro forecast read moreIf the first two weeks of 2020 are anything to go by, it is likely to be another extremely challenging year for the SA economy. Hope of an acceleration in real GDP growth towards 1% is already fading, with forecasts being revised down. The BER macro forecast will be updated this week against the backdrop of renewed electricity load shedding at the start of the year, the resignation of Eskom chairman Jabu Mabuza as the power utility becomes entangled in ANC factional battles, and renewed global geopolitical uncertainty.