GLOBAL MARKETS
US MARKETS TAKE A KNOCK, BUSINESS IMPROVES IN JAPAN
The big story of the week was S&P’s downgrade of South Africa’s local and foreign currency ratings to junk status. This follows the cabinet reshuffle last week and the ratings agency’s concerns of potential change in policy. SA’s long-term foreign currency rating was lowered from to BB+ from BBB- and the long-term local currency rating was lowered to BBB- from BBB. The outlook remained the same at negative on heightened political risk. Fellow ratings agency Moody’s announced on Monday that it also intends to put SA on review for a downgrade, but deferred its review meeting to 11 August 2017. SA’s Moody’s rating is currently two notches above sub-investment grade at Baa2.
OIL: A VOLATILE WEEK
After initial gains, oil prices fell sharply following the most recent EIA data which showed that crude inventories rose to another record high the previous week. The commodity has since rebounded after Friday’s news of the US attack on Syria, with Brent crude ending 3.19% higher for the week at $55.38 a barrel.
EUROPE: FASTER GROWTH EXPECTED FOR Q1
The euro region’s PPI for February increased 4.5% year-on-year (YoY), which exceeded expectations of 4.2%YoY and grew from 3.9% YoY in January. March’s manufacturing PMI data was flat from the previous estimate at 54.2 pts, while unemployment for February fell to 9.5%, down from 9.6% in January, its lowest since May 2009. Altogether, data suggests growth of 0.6% to 0.7% quarter-on-quarter for Q1, versus original estimates of 0.3% to 0.4%.
JAPAN: BUSINESS CONDITIONS IMPROVE ACROSS INDUSTRIES
The final revision of the Japanese Nikkei manufacturing PMI for March was slightly lower at 52.4 pts, from 52.6 pts in the previous estimate. The services PMI for March rose to 52.9 pts, from 51.3 pts in February. The growing demand for services boosted the compo-site PMI reading for March, which came in at 52.9 pts (from 52.2 pts in February), the strongest composite PMI reading since August 2015. Business conditions improved for both small and large manufacturers across all industries, including the non-manufacturing sector, in the first quarter of 2017.
AUSTRALIA: RESERVE BANK KEEPS INTEREST RATES UNCHANGED
This week the Australian Reserve Bank announced that it would leave interest rates the same at 1.5%. This was coupled with a warning on lending to risky house buyers, noting that although employment is still rising, wage growth continues to be low.
US: FOMC MINUTES RAISE VALUATION CONCERNS
US markets took a knock during the week after FOMC minutes reported that “some participants viewed equity prices as quite high relative to standard valuation measures” and also that “prices of other risk assets, such as emerging market stocks, high yield corporate bonds, and commercial real estate, had also risen significantly in recent months”. In addition, Friday’s employment data disappointed, with 98,000 jobs added in March instead of the 180,000 jobs expected, and a decline from February’s revised figure of 219,000. Unemployment improved to 4.5% in March from 4.7% in Feb, but average hourly earnings were slightly low-er at 2.7% YoY in March from 2.8% YoY in Feb.
DOMESTIC MARKETS
DOWNGRADE DOMINATES, SWIFT REACTION FROM MARKETS
S&P DOWNGRADES SA CURRENCY RATINGS
After S&P downgraded SA’s local and foreign currency ratings to junk status, inflation-linked bonds, financial services and long bonds suffered the most. Counterpoint expects other rating agencies to follow suit in downgrading SA’s ratings, and note that it requires two agencies to downgrade SA for the country to be excluded from the various international bond indices, such as the Bloomberg, Citigroup and JP Morgan global bond indices.
RAND WEAKENS AFTER S&P DOWNGRADE
The rand fell following the S&P downgrade, but later steadied between R13.50 and R13.80 to the US dollar. The rand is holding up better than during ‘Nene-gate’ in 2015, but has still been the weakest performer amongst other EM currencies over the past 10 days. Continued political risk and uncertainty are likely to result in further volatility, though supportive global and local economic conditions may help to slow or limit losses in the rand. At Friday’s close, the rand was trading at R13.85 to the US dollar, down 2.57% for the week.
BARCLAYS MANUFACTURING PMI FALLS SLIGHTLY
The Barclays manufacturing PMI slipped in March to 52.2 pts from 52.5 pts in February, but still remained above 50.
STANDARD BANK SA PMI HOLDS STEADY
The March Standard Bank South Africa PMI held steady above the 50-benchmark for seven months in a row, increasing slightly to 50.7 pts in March from 50.5 pts in February. The four sub-categories which improved included: output, new orders, stocks of purchases and suppliers’ delivery times. The positive PMI has likely been driven by the rise in commodity prices since the middle of 2016 and the end of the drought. However, the increased political risk and S&P downgrade is likely to have a negative impact on business and investor confidence, and could slow economic growth as a result.
INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT FOR Q4:2016
Stats SA reported that non-farm employment for Q4:16 increased by 18,000 jobs or 0.2% quarter-on-quarter, from 9,672,000 jobs in September 2016 to 9,690,000 jobs in December 2016. The growth in employment is mainly attributable to expansion in the trade (3.3%), business services (1.6%) and manufacturing (1.1%) industries.
VEHICLE SALES UP 2.1% YEAR-ON-YEAR
Naamsa vehicle sales growth came in at 2.1% year-on- year in March, from -0.1% YoY in February. 48,534 vehicles were sold in March, an increase from 48,097 vehicles sold in February and 47,514 vehicles sold in the comparative month in 2016.
THE IMPACT ON INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS
Brenthurst Wealth’s investment portfolios have long been reflecting a more aggressive exposure to offshore assets combined with a conservative approach toward local asset classes.
Brenthurst’s financial planners, who understand the long-term investment objectives of clients intimately, will be assessing portfolios on an individual basis and will, if within the risk-profile of clients, make strategic adjustments in order to reduce domestic risk and obtain larger exposure to offshore asset classes.
Megan joined the Brenthurst Wealth team in March 2026 as an Administrative and Fiduciary Services Assistant at our Val de Vie Office in the Western Cape. Prior to joining Brenthurst, Megan gained three years of experience in the retail sector, where she developed management and client service skills.
I obtained my National Diploma in Financial Information Systems from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 1999 and have worked in the wealth management industry since January 2000. Over the years, I have gained extensive experience in various roles, including Portfolio Manager Assistant, Planner Assistant, and Paraplanner.
Esmarelda Isaacs-Andreas joined the Brenthurst Wealth Stellenbosch office in October 2025, taking on the dual role of Receptionist and Fiduciary Administrator.
I obtained my National Diploma in Financial Information Systems from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology in 1999 and have worked in the wealth management industry since January 2000. Over the years, I have gained extensive experience in various roles, including Portfolio Manager Assistant, Planner Assistant, and Paraplanner.
Ashley joined Brenthurst Wealth in January 2025 as Office Administrative Assistant and Receptionist for the Stellenbosch Office.
René Heystek joined Brenthurst Wealth in November 2023, as receptionist and administrative assistant in the newly established George/Garden Route office.
Michelle Heystek has built a career in the financial services over the last two decades, after obtaining her B.Com degree in Financial Management in 2005. Once she joined Brenthurst in 2006, she continued her academic journey, obtaining her Certificate in Wealth Management from INSETA in 2007, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Planning from the University of the Free State. In 2008, she earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) designation.
Anelle joined Brenthurst Wealth as a Receptionist and Administrative Assistant to Brian Butchart in the Cape Town office in December 2023. She has a wealth of knowledge from working as a liaison between Financial Advisers and clients at TMA and Absa Investment Management Services (Aims) since 1998. She obtained her B. com degree from the University of Port Elizabeth in 1997.
ADMITTED ATTORNEY | FINANCIAL PLANNER & HEAD OF BRENTHURST FOURWAYS
Sanet was appointed in April 2020, joining our Cape Town team as an Executive Administration Assistant to Renee Eagar. She has been in the financial services industry since 1990. Her previous experience includes positions at Sanlam, BJM and ABSA. She spent her last 12 years working at Alexander Forbes Private Client Wealth as a Senior Wealth Management Assistant. She has received numerous accolades over the years which include but not limited to, Alexander Forbes Client Service Excellence – Silver award in 2014,2015 and 2017. Sanet has also obtained her Certificate in Wealth Management (NQF 5) in 2012 and achieved “Best Student of the Year” from Moonstone.
Maria Smit is a Certified Financial Planner® with over 10 years of experience in the financial planning industry.
