INVESTMENT NOTE MORE SIGNS OF STRONG GLOBAL GROWTH 16 OCTOBER 2017 DAVE MOHR & IZAK ODENDAAL, OLD MUTUAL MULTI-MANAGERS

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1 INVESTMENT NOTE MORE SIGNS OF STRONG GLOBAL GROWTH DAVE MOHR & IZAK ODENDAAL, OLD MUTUAL MULTI-MANAGERS

2 MORE SIGNS OF STRONG GLOBAL GROWTH The International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced updated global economic growth forecasts last week. It now expects growth to be faster than it did a few months ago, largely due to an acceleration in growth in the US, Europe and China. The global economy is expected to advance by 3.6% (real purchasing power parity adjusted in US dollars) in 2017 and 3.8% next year. This is up from 3.2% in 2016, the worst year since the 2009 worldwide recession. The US is expected to grow by 2.2% this year, and the Eurozone by 2.1%. The latter is probably the most positive story for the global economy, as Eurozone growth lagged the US for a long time due to its (largely self-imposed) double-dip recession. As a result, the US economy is 30% larger than early 2008 before the global recession, while the Eurozone is only 1% larger. Even after a few quarters of accelerating growth, there should still be plenty of pent-up demand as unemployment is still falling after almost a decade of growth disappointments. Japan s growth rate is expected to be 1.% this year, up from 1% last year and robust by its standards. Among emerging markets, China s growth rate of 6.8% this year is up slightly from the previous forecast. It is expected to slow somewhat to 6.% next year, but this is still breakneck speed for an economy of this size. Russia and Brazil have both exited a recession and should see modest growth this year and the next. India is a disappointment, after being the darling of the emerging markets over the previous few years. Two key reforms (introducing a nationwide sales tax and removing large denomination banknotes from circulation) have impacted economic growth significantly, and the IMF cut this year s forecast by 0.% to 6.7%. However, these reforms should bear fruit over the long term. UPGRADES, NOT DOWNGRADES The significance of referring to the IMF s forecasts is not that they are very accurate forecasts are inherently difficult and always require a sizeable pinch of salt but that their direction has changed. From 2012 to 2016, every revision to the IMF s global growth forecast was down, i.e. growth expectations were continuously lowered. But now they are lifting. This increased optimism is also visible in financial markets. Stronger global growth means companies can grow their revenues and hence their profits. No wonder global equity markets are setting new records. BE WARY OF ITCHY TRIGGER FINGERS The biggest risk to the global economy comes from the major central banks prematurely tightening policy, i.e. hiking interest rates and cutting quantitative easing. Although inflation is still very low globally, the risk is that central banks overreact to falling unemployment, which has always been assumed to result in rising inflation (even though falling unemployment has not resulted in a sustained rise in inflation in this cycle). The US Federal Reserve is the furthest along the path of tightening, and it is also by far the most important central bank given the outsized role the dollar plays in global finance and trade. Minutes of its recent monetary policy meeting released last week showed an intense debate around whether low inflation is permanent or transitory. How this debate plays out in the boardroom at the Eccles building in Washington could have ramifications in far-flung corners of the globe, very much including the southern tip of Africa. While a December rate hike is still expected, and the Fed is gradually letting maturing bonds roll off its balance sheet, future rate hikes are still likely to be very gradual and limited. The risk remains that the Fed might have a new chair in March unless President Trump reappoints Janet Yellen. Some of the other leading candidates unfortunately have a history of seeing imaginary inflation behind every rock. The European Central Bank (ECB), faced with a much stronger economy than a year ago, is also expected to announce a tapering of its bond buying programme soon, though it is likely to maintain negative interest rates for some time. The ECB witnessed first hand the negative impact of a premature rate hike in 2011, so hopefully they learnt their lesson. SOUTH AFRICA S CONFIDENCE SHORTFALL South Africa is one of the few countries that had its forecast for this year and next year lowered by the IMF. Our growth is expected to be only 0.7% this year and 1.1% in 2018 (up from 0.3% in 2016). It is really a sad day when our growth is forecast to be slower than Japan s. Recent research from the Reserve Bank shows the impact of weak confidence on the economy. If consumer and business confidence had been at average levels between 2014 and 2016, instead of deeply depressed, growth would have been around one percentage point higher in each of those three years (and probably in 2017 as well). It is therefore crucial that the upcoming medium-term budget contains steps from Government to stabilise and raise confidence. 2

3 More realistically though, we probably need to wait for the outcome of the ruling party s December elective conference before anything can change materially. A JUMP IN MINING OUTPUT In the meantime, a stronger global economy should help us as a small open economy. Perhaps the jump in mining production in August is an early sign as the mining sector is clearly tied to the global cycle instead of domestic demand. Mining does, however, have broader spill-over effects. As the president of the Chamber of Mines noted, mining remains the flywheel of the South African economy, and when mining does well, it lifts other sectors. Mining production increased 6.9% year-on-year in August, well ahead of expectations. Manufacturing production also grew faster than expected. Finally, when thinking about the economic links between South Africa and the rest of world, the exchange rate is obviously important. A strong rand means export revenues suffer even if global demand is strong. A weak rand does the opposite. Similarly, a strong rand reduces the value of hard-currency assets for local investors, while a weak rand reduces the value of South African assets for foreign investors (all else being equal). The rand has been volatile over the past month or so, weakening from R12.80 to R13.80 per dollar between early September and early October. However, it is now back to R13.30 and has moved broadly sideways against the dollar, euro and pound over the past year. At current levels, the rand can be considered to be more or less fairly valued against the dollar and euro, neither too strong nor too weak, and the impact on trade and investment should be neutral. However, it does not have a history of remaining at fair value for long. CHART 1: REAL GLOBAL GROWTH WITH FORECASTS AND HISTORIC AVERAGE (%) f 2018f 2019f 2020f CHART 2: SOUTH AFRICAN MINING PRODUCTION 0 MINING PRODUCTION Y/Y% MANUFACTURING PRODUCTION Y/Y% Source: IMF Jan 1 Feb 1 Mar 1 Apr 1 May 1 Jun 1 Jul 1 Aug 1 Sep 1 Oct 1 Nov 1 Dec 1 Jan 16 Feb 16 Mar 16 Apr 16 May 16 Jun 16 Jul 16 Aug 16 Sep 16 Oct 16 Nov 16 Dec 16 Jan 17 Feb 17 Mar 17 Apr 17 May 17 Jun 17 Jul 17 Aug 17 Source: StatsSA 3

4 EQUITIES - GLOBAL Global MSCI World US$ % 1.1% 1.9% 19.76% United States S&P 00 US$ % 1.3% 14.02% 19.69% Europe MSCI Europe US$ % 0.79% 20.80% 24.61% Britain FTSE 100 US$ % 1.36% 13.61% 17.20% Germany DAX US$ % 2.00% 16.38% 34.18% Japan Nikkei 22 US$ % 2.94% 10.68% 14.62% Emerging Markets MSCI Emerging Markets US$ % 3.70% 30.16% 2.93% Brazil MSCI Brazil US$ % 2.84% 27.99% 22.71% China MSCI China US$ % 4.28% 46.47% 37.2% India MSCI India US$ % 4.23% 27.4% 18.04% South Africa MSCI South Africa US$ %.60% 16.30% 21.38% EQUITIES - SOUTH AFRICA (TR UNLESS INDICATED OTHERWISE) All Share (Capital Only) All Share (Capital Index) Rand % 4.13% 14.26% 14.62% All Share All Share (Total Return) Rand % 4.26% 17.38% 18.09% Top 40/Large Caps Top 40 Rand % 4.31% 20.31% 20.33% Mid Caps Mid Cap Rand % 3.97% 0.04% 3.01% Small Companies Small Cap Rand % 2.73% 2.09% 2.9% Resources Resource 20 Rand % 2.6% 1.6% 16.2% Industrials Industrial 2 Rand % 4.87% 2.63% 22.41% Financials Financial 1 Rand % 4.80% 9.33% 18.0% Listed Property SA Listed Property Rand % 3.88% 12.38% 16.71% FIXED INTEREST - GLOBAL Global Government Bonds Citi Group WGBI US$ % 0.22% 7.86% -0.40% FIXED INTEREST - SOUTH AFRICA All Bond BESA ALBI Rand % -0.14% 7.67% 9.08% Government Bonds BESA GOVI Rand % -0.1% 7.82% 9.22% Corporate Bonds SB JSE Credit Indices Rand % -1.17% -7.38% -1.42% Inflation Linked Bonds BESA CILI Rand % 0.19% 2.01% 0.2% Cash STEFI Composite Rand % 0.27%.93% 7.61% COMMODITIES Brent Crude Oil Brent Crude ICE US$ % -0.86% -0.86% 8.67% Gold Gold Spot US$ % 1.33% 12.60% 2.86% Platinum Platinum Spot US$ % 2.8% 3.88% 0.32% CURRENCIES ZAR/Dollar ZAR/USD Rand % 2.20% 3.28% 7.42% ZAR/Pound ZAR/GBP Rand % 3.32% -4.30% -0.06% ZAR/Euro ZAR/EUR Rand % 2.11% -7.90% 0.4% Dollar/Euro USD/EUR US$ % -0.1% -10.8% -.93% Dollar/Pound USD/GBP US$ % 0.87% -7.41% -8.17% Dollar/Yen USD/JPY US$ % 0.00% -3.37% 8.99% Source: I-Net, figures as at 13 October

5 THE WEEK AHEAD SOUTH AFRICA Retail sales US Industrial production Housing starts Existing home sales EUROZONE Eurozone inflation CHINA Inflation Credit growth Retail sales Fixed asset investment Industrial production 19th National Congress of the CCP JAPAN Tankan survey Trade balance The Old Mutual Wealth Investment Note is published on a weekly basis to keep our clients and financial planners informed of what is happening in financial markets and the economy and to share our insights. Markets are often very volatile in the short term and similarly, economic data releases or central bank actions may cause concerns for investors. This does not mean that investors should take action based on the most recent events. It is better to be disciplined and remain invested in well-diversified portfolios that are designed to achieve long-term objectives. Our Strategy Funds are actively managed, with asset allocation changes based on valuations and in anticipation of future real returns, and not in response to the most recent market noise. The future is always uncertain and that is why our Strategy Funds are diversified and managed with a long-term focus. Old Mutual Wealth is brought to you through several authorised Financial Services Providers in the Old Mutual Group who make up the elite service offering. This document is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice in any way or form. It is important to consult a financial planner to receive financial advice before acting on any information contained herein. Old Mutual Wealth and its directors, officers and employees shall not be responsible and disclaims all liability for any loss, damage (whether direct, indirect, special or consequential) and/or expense of any nature whatsoever, which may be suffered as a result of or which may be attributable, directly or indirectly, to the use of, or reliance upon any information contained in this document.