Events that moved the market Q2 2018
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3 Apr 2018Source: Eyewitness NewsTrump ups the trade tariff stakesThe Trump administration announces 25% tariffs on some 1 300 industrial technology, transport and medical products, a move that will hit exporters and emerging markets in particular.
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17 Apr 2018Source: fin24IMF raises SA growth forecastThe IMF raises its forecast for SA GDP growth in 2018 to 1.5% after cutting its prediction to 0.9% in January.
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18 Apr 2018Source: Statistics SASA inflation drops furtherSA inflation slows to 3.8% year-on-year in March from 4.0% in February, the lowest figure since January 2011.
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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.
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27 Apr 2018Source: AFPKorean breakthroughAsian markets advance in reaction to the historic meeting of the leaders of North and South Korea as they agree to pursue permanent peace and complete denuclearisation.
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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.
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2 May 2018Source: ReutersUS keeps rates steadyThe Fed holds interest rates steady and indicates that, with inflation near its 2% target, it’s on track to raise borrowing costs in June.
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4 May 2018Source: CNN MoneyArgentina hikes rates to 40%Argentina hikes interest rates to 40% and reach for a controversial bailout by the IMF in the light of its widening trade deficit.
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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%.
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18 May 2018Source: BloombergOil above $80/barrelBrent futures top $80 a barrel for the first time since 2014 on renewed US sanctions against Iran and shrinking supplies from Venezuela.
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20 May 2018Source: Fox NewsUS and China cease trade fireThe US Treasury Secretary and China's Vice Premier Liu He reach a consensus to stop increasing tariffs on each other’s exports.
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23 May 2018Source: Statistics SASA inflation at 4.5%SA's consumer inflation comes out at 4.5%, up from 3.8% in March, and driven higher by fuel prices and alcoholic beverages.
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23 May 2018Source: CNBCTurkish lira hits record lowThe Turkish lira tumbles on growing investor alarm over the direction of monetary policy under President Tayyip Erdogan.
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28 May 2018Source: AFPHope for Italy and EurozoneMilanese stocks jump on the appointment of Carlo Cottarelli, an economist formerly with the IMF, to form a technocrat government.
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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.
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5 Jun 2018Source: Statistics SASA economy shrinksSA’s real GDP falls by 2.2% in the first quarter of 2018, the largest quarter-on-quarter decline since the first quarter of 2009. Mining is the biggest cause of the drop.
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6 Jun 2018Source: SA Chamber of Commerce and IndustryBusiness confidence dipsBusiness confidence in South Africa dips slightly in May, due to inflation caused by the recent VAT hike and lower merchandise import and export volumes.
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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.
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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.
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21 Jun 2018Source: Global XNot only tears for ArgentinaThe MSCI announces that the MSCI Argentina Index will be reclassified to Emerging Market status in 2019 from Frontier Market status.
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