Events that moved the market 2018
-
15 Jan 2018Source: Bloomberg NewsYuan at 2-year highThe yuan climbs to its strongest level since December 2015 after the People’s Bank of China raises the daily reference rate the most in three months.
-
22 Jan 2018Source: CNN MoneyTrump launches trade warThe US announces a 30% tariff on imported solar panels, most of which come from China, and taxes of 20% and more on residential washing machines.
-
2 Feb 2018Source: AFPGood jobs report trips marketsA strong US jobs report, showing the biggest increase in wages in nine years, stirs fears of a US interest rate hike and starts a global stock market sell-off.
-
15 Feb 2018Source: SABCRamaphosa takes the reinsCyril Ramaphosa becomes the fifth democratic president of the Republic of South Africa.
-
21 Feb 2018Source: National TreasuryFirst VAT hike in 21 yearsMinister Gigaba announces an increase in VAT to 15%. Treasury also re-affirms its intent to stabilise South Africa’s debt ratio.
-
21 Mar 2018Source: CNBCFed raises interest ratesThe Fed raises rates for the sixth time since starting off at near-zero in December 2015. The new benchmark target has moved to 1.5%-1.75%.
-
22 Mar 2018Source: ReutersNaspers sells stake in TencentNaspers announces that it plans to sell up to 2% of Tencent via an accelerated bookbuild to raise money to fund growth in its e-commerce unit.
-
28 Mar 2018Source: SA Reserve BankRate cut for SAThe monetary policy committee of the SA Reserve Bank cuts interest rates by 0.25%, bringing the repo rate to 6.5% and the prime lending rate 10%.
-
25 Apr 2018Source: FNB/Bureau of Economic Research (BER) Consumer Confidence IndexSA consumer confidence peaksThe BER Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) rises to a record high of +26 index points.
-
27 Apr 2018Source: AFPPound weakens along with UK GDPThe pound plunges as Britain's GDP grows by just 0.1% in the first quarter of 2018, from 0.4% in the preceding quarter.
-
10 May 2018Source: Statistics SAMining output dropsSA mining output contracts the most in two years, shrinking 8.4% from a year earlier. Platinum is down 6.1% and gold production down 18%.
-
31 May 2018Source: BloombergEurozone inflation picks upEurozone inflation hits the fastest pace in more than a year, rising to 1.9% - in line with the ECB’s goal and up from just 1.2% in April.
-
13 Jun 2018Source: New York TimesFed hikes interest ratesThe Federal Reserve raises its benchmark interest rate to a range between 1.75 percent and 2 percent.
-
21 Jun 2018Source: Business DayNHI Bill gazettedThe National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill is published in the Government Gazette, paving the way for government’s ambitions to introduce universal healthcare to all South Africans.
-
10 Aug 2018Source: Financial TimesTurkish Lira in turmoilThe Turkish Lira drops almost 6% in one week on comments by President Erdogan that he plans an ‘operation’ against Moody’s as it reviews Turkey’s credit rating. Other emerging market currencies, such as the Rand, are punished alongside the Lira.
-
15 Aug 2018Source: BloombergTencent and Naspers tumbleTencent releases its first profit drop in at least a decade, reflected by a market value loss of more than $160 billion since its January peak. One of the reasons for the decline in profit has been the freeze on game approvals in China.
-
29 Aug 2018Source: BloombergUS growth at 4.2%The US economy grows at a slightly faster pace than previously estimated on revisions to imports and software spending, bolstering the strongest period of growth since 2014.
-
31 Aug 2018Source: BloombergArgentine Peso plummets furtherArgentina raises interest rates to 60%, the highest in the world, after the currency loses nearly 20% of its value in the preceding week. Inflation is above 30%.
-
4 Sept 2018Source: Statistics SASA in recessionSA enters its first technical recession in 9 years, with agriculture the main driver behind the decline.
-
20 Sept 2018Source: BloombergUS stocks touch new highsThe S&P 500 Index soars to a record close - led by the technology, health-care and financial sectors.
-
26 Sept 2018Source: CNBCUS rates to rise rapidlyThe Fed raises the federal funds rate to the 2-2.25% range and indicates that one more hike is in store for 2018; three for 2019.
-
1 Oct 2018Source: AFPJapanese market hits 27-year highTokyo's benchmark Nikkei index reaches a 27-year high, boosted by a weak yen and a breakthrough in trade talks between the US and Canada.
-
8 Oct 2018Source: ReutersStock markets start sinkingWorld markets are driven down by fatigued earnings and uncertainty around trade relationships.
-
9 Oct 2018Source: BloombergIMF revises global growth downThe IMF cuts its growth forecast for the global economy down from 3.9% to 3.7% for the first time in more than two years, blaming escalating trade tensions and emerging market stress.
-
18 Oct 2018Source: Google FinanceChinese stocks set back 4 yearsThe Shanghai Composite Index closes at its lowest level since November 2014, in the wake of the US trade war.
-
25 Oct 2018Source: TreasuryONESA Mini Budget batters bondsThe R186 yield weakens to its highest level this year with National Treasury’s latest debt projections painting an unattractive picture.
-
29 Oct 2018Source: BloombergYuan at decade-lowChina’s yuan slides to its weakest level since May 2008, as the central bank cuts its daily fixing on signs that a trade war with the US may escalate.
-
30 Oct 2018Source: Statistics SA27.5% in SA has no jobThere are 16.4m employed and 6.2m unemployed between the ages of 15 and 64 years in SA. The unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 24 is 52.8%.
-
14 Nov 2018Source: BloombergJapan output down after natural disastersJapan’s economy shrinks at an annualised 1.2% in Q3 after an earthquake, typhoons and torrential rain disrupt supply chains.
-
14 Nov 2018Source: BloombergGerman economy contractsGermany’s unexpected 0.2% contraction in the third quarter of 2018 is the worst economic output in more than five years.
-
22 Nov 2018Source: fin24.comSA raises interest ratesThe SA Reserve Bank raises the repo rate to 6.75% from 6.5%, with the prime lending rate increasing to 10.25%.
-
27 Nov 2018Source: RMB/Bureau for Economic ResearchSA business outlook bleakSA business confidence drops to 31, the lowest level since the country lost its investment-grade credit rating in 2017.
-
29 Nov 2018Source: BloombergOil drops below $50/barrelThe oil price falls below $50 a barrel for the first time in more than a year with US stockpiles growing and Russia reticent to cut supply.
-
4 Dec 2018Source: Statistics SASA slips out of recessionSA slips out of a technical recession after reporting 2.2% GDP growth for the third quarter of 2018.
-
12 Dec 2018Source: Statistics SAInflation ticks upSA inflation ticks up to 5.2% in November.
-
19 Dec 2018Source: TreasuryONEFed less dovish on 2019The Fed raises rates by 25 bps as expected. Markets are spooked by Fed Chairman Powell’s less dovish statement. Powell indicates two further hikes for 2019 while markets were hoping for one.
-
20 Dec 2018Source: Bloomberg NewsUK curbs immigrationThe UK publishes its immigration plan, capping the number of immigrants at 100 000 per year, and setting the minimum salary level for skilled migrant workers at £30 000 per year. EU citizens will acquire settled status if they have lived in the UK for five years.
-
21 Dec 2018Source: AFPJapanese markets slumpTokyo's Nikkei hit a 15-month low on fears of a slowing global economy, with a higher yen also weighing on sentiment.
Related Articles
No related photos.
Comments are closed.