GLOBAL MARKETS
ANOTHER WEEK OF MIXED NUMBERS FROM MARKETS
After the central banks had their say, creating a risk-on environment, markets opened lower last week. Central bank optimism saw the S&P500 index reach weekly highs not seen in more than two months. It was no surprise that investors therefore decided to lock in some profits. The S&P 500 index closed off its weekly highs at 0.2% up on the week. Emerging market currencies depreciated on the whole. The Philippine Peso and the Argentine Peso depreciated 1.05% (48.35/USD) and 0.90% (closing at 15.28/USD) respectively.
In economic news released in the US, new home sales fell -7.6% m/m in August, beating expectations of -8.3% m/m. In the meanwhile, the US Market composite PMI for September ticked up to 52.0 pts from 51.5 pts in August. US consumer confidence came in at a nine year high of 104.1 pts while durable goods orders also beat expectations coming in flat for August when -1.5% m/m was expected. These positive numbers increase the probability of a Fed rate hike in December, given their current hawkish stance. The first US presidential debate took place between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Most pundits agree that Hillary Clinton won, which is positive for the markets. The Mexican Peso and Canadian Dollar were also positively influenced, ending the week at 19.37/USD (an appreciation of 2.01%) and 1.31/USD (an appreciation of 0.41%) respectively.
In the east, Japanese services PPI for August slowed to 0.2% y/y from 0.3% y/y in July. This was below expectations of 0.3% y/y and more evidence that inflation remains stubbornly low in Japan.
In other news, retail sales also disappointed, coming in at -2.1% y/y for August against the -1.7% y/y the market expected. This was the sixth consecutive contraction and the longest run of poor retail trade out of Japan since the financial crisis. In China, industrial profits grew at 19.5% y/y in August, up from 11% in July. Accelerated sales, falling costs, increasing prices, a lower base effect and higher activity in the auto, steel and refined oil production were reasons were cited for the positive number.
Brent crude was volatile last week. It opened the week rallying to 48.1/bbl and then ended the week at 49.9/bbl. The initial short-lived rally came as major oil producers met in Algiers to discuss a possible production freeze. Iran then released a statement saying they would not be interested in cutting production until they regain market share, shortly after which, Brent traded lower at 45.8/bbl. Saudi Arabia responded by saying they are not interested in an agreement without Iran although they suggested they may be willing to compromise. In the event, an agreement was reached to reduce oil production to between 32.5m and 33m barrels a day but the agreement did not set out how much each oil producer has to cut production, so there might still be issues surrounding this in future.
Moody’s rating agency downgraded Turkish sovereign debt to junk status (Baa3 to Ba1), citing risks related to the country’s external financing needs as the reason. The Turkish lira depreciated on the back of this to end the week at 3.00/USD (depreciation of 1.03%).
DOMESTIC MARKETS
ECONOMIC NEWS DISAPPOINTS, JSE FLAT
Economic news released last week disappointed on the whole. PPI for August, released by Stats SA, came in at 7.2% y/y (July 7.4%), when expectations were for 7.3% y/y. The primary contributors came from food and beverage price increases (11.4%) as well as petroleum and rubber (2.4%). Thereafter, the SARB released private sector credit data for August, which expanded 6.15% y/y. This was lower than July’s 6.78% and is the weakest increase since October 2011. This was followed by SARS releasing South Africa’s trade balance for August, which came in at a deficit of R-8.56b when markets expected a surplus of R3b. The decline was mainly due to exports falling 5.5% while imports jumped 9.2%.
Stats SA was supposed to release non-farm payroll data for Q2 2016 but stated that quarterly employment statistics would only be released on 7 October. In the meanwhile, the Bureau of Economic Research (BER) stated that the rebound in consumer confidence was not sufficiently robust to herald the start of a new cycle upturn. They added that retail and manufacturing confidence surveys revealed poor employment prospects and, coupled with the low growth environment, job creation is expected to remain low.
The JSE All Share index was flat last week. The main contributions came from resources, which returned 2.67% while industrials and financials fell by -0.66% and -1.05% respectively. In a nostalgic day, South African Breweries (SAB), founded in 1895, disappeared from the JSE last Friday after being listed for nearly one hundred and twenty years after Inbev clinched the $103b takeover of SAB. The deal, approved by SAB investors, contributed to the volatility of the ZAR. When this deal was taking place, Inbev was buying ZAR denominated SAB shares, keeping the ZAR strong. However, once the major forex activity surrounding the deal was completed, the local currency depreciated in line with other emerging market currencies, ending the week flat at 13.75/USD.
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.
