Quarterly Outlook
Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges
Althea Spinozzi
Head of Fixed Income Strategy
Head of Macroeconomic Research
Summary: The Federal Reserve's latest tweak to monetary policy - a half-point cut in its benchmark interest rate - is likely to push the SARB to cut interest rates on March 19.
At Saxo, we have always been very optimistic about the long-term growth potential of the South African economy. However, in the short run, South Africa is facing strong headwinds that are ill-addressed by policymakers. Before COVID-19 outbreak, the economy was already in bad shape: data released on March 3 confirmed the country slumped into a recession in the fourth quarter last year, credit rating is at risk and Eskim’s heavy debt load is still worrying investors (for more on that topic, please read this great article written by M. Merten).
Adding to that downside risks to global growth due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, it is not surprising that pressures are mounting on the SARB to cut interest rates. An emergency rate cut is out of question for the moment according to the governor of the SARB. However, considering the SARB has a long history of following the Fed’s monetary policy tweak, we think that it will announce a half-point cut in its benchmark interest rate, from 6.25% to 5,75%, at its regular gathering on March 19. The Fed’s recent move gives South Africa and other EM countries with weak growth a little more room for maneuver to ease monetary policy without weakening too much their currency.
Disclaimer
The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website. This content is not intended to and does not change or expand on the execution-only service. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Bank Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Bank Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Bank Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.
Please read our disclaimers:
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-gb/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)