Risk Alert (Week of 24 Feb 2020)

International factors include a dramatic slowdown in GDP growth in Japan, and the latest forward guidance by the US Federal Reserve, which indicated that it remains opposed to further rate cuts.

Two international bodies also made pronouncements on SA last week: Moody’s cut SA’s growth outlook from 1.5% to 0.7%; and the IMF, whose chief economist visited the country, dismissed the likelihood of a bailout for SA.

On the domestic political front, Dr Cronje discusses the origins of the Employment Equity Amendment Bill of 2020 and its likely impact.