Maarten Ackerman, Chief Economist at Citadel, comments on South Africa’s Q2 2024 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data announced by StatsSA.

Sebastian Mullins, Head of Multi-Asset and Fixed Income at global asset manager Schroders discusses the implications of the tumultuous lead-up to November’s general election in the US.

Izak Odendaal, Investment Strategist at Old Mutual Wealth, provides insights into the current global market transitions, particularly the turning point in global interest rates. As rates begin to fall, we observe shifts in bond, equity, and currency markets.

Jerome Powell’s highly anticipated speech at the Federal Reserve’s (Fed) annual Jackson Hole summit provided key forward guidance. He acknowledged that there had been an “unmistakeable” cooling in the labour market, adding that policymakers had “ample room” to respond to a more pronounced deterioration. However, he stressed that the timing and pace of cuts would hinge on “incoming data, the evolving outlook and the balance of risks.”

Roné Swanepoel, Head of Sales at Morningstar South Africa, emphasises the dangers of performance chasing in investing. Highlighting that only 25% of S&P 500 stocks outperformed the index in 2024, she argues that switching to recent top performers often leads to poor long-term returns.

Izak Odendaal, Old Mutual Wealth Investment Strategist, reflects on global economic challenges, highlighting the US Federal Reserve's potential for a soft landing amid inflation concerns. He contrasts this with China’s slowing growth and emphasizes the importance of South Africa’s economic resilience.