pixel

URGENT ALERT: Please beware of fraudulent WhatsApp groups and other groups across Social Media pretending to be affiliated with Anchor and Anchor staff members. Do not engage with these malicious and fraudulent groups in any way. Please direct all queries to invest@anchorcapital.co.za.

December local commentary: The JSE follows world markets lower but ends the year in positive territory

Our December Local Commentary

The JSE followed global stock markets lower (FTSE/JSE Capped SWIX -2.8% MoM), but despite this, it ended the year in positive territory (Capped SWIX +4.5% YoY) – one of a select few major global stock markets to eke out a gain for 2022. However, December’s stock market performance was looking decidedly worse mid-month as local politics added to the uncertainty. The ANC headed into its twice-a-decade leadership conference with the incumbent, President Cyril Ramaphosa, fighting off the threat of an impeachment vote and the possibility of needing to step aside as a result of criminal charges related to the theft (and subsequent handling thereof) of foreign currency from his Phala Phala game farm. The president managed to avoid any serious fallout from this alleged misconduct and won a second five-year term in charge of the ANC (and, by extension, likely the country). The composition of the remaining top leadership of the ANC seems to favour an extension of the investor-friendly policies we have seen under the president’s first term, and local markets responded well to the conference’s outcome.

Stocks geared towards the domestic economy were amongst the worst-performing in December (-6% MoM), while those companies with foreign earnings generally fared better despite a stronger local currency (rand +1% MoM vs the US dollar). Miners, particularly those with meaningful exposure to iron ore (+12.1% MoM), also fared slightly better (BHP +1% MoM, Kumba +2% MoM), though the most significant positive contribution to the local stock indices came via Naspers and Prosus (both +7% MoM), buoyed by a resurgence in the share price of their biggest underlying investment, Chinese tech conglomerate, Tencent. Sentiment towards Chinese investments continued to improve as the Chinese government rolled back policies related to the handling of COVID-19 infections that had hampered economic activity in the country, despite reports of increasing infections.

On the domestic economic front, inflation slowed less than anticipated and remained unacceptably high in categories such as transport (+15.3% YoY) and food and non-alcoholic beverages (+12.5% MoM). However, despite the worse-than-expected inflation data and generally higher global bond yields, local 10-year government bond yields ended the month largely unchanged (at 10.8%).

At Anchor, our clients come first. Our dedicated Anchor team of investment professionals are experts in devising investment strategies and generating financial wealth for our clients by offering a broad range of local and global investment solutions and structures to build your financial portfolio. These investment solutions also include asset management, access to hedge fundspersonal share portfoliosunit trusts, and pension fund products. In addition, our skillset provides our clients with access to various local and global investment solutions. Please provide your contact details here, and one of our trusted financial advisors will contact you.

OUR LATEST NEWS AND RESEARCH

INVESTING IN YOUR NEEDS

Submit your details and we’ll give you a call back to assist and advise you on your investment.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS

Subscribe to our newsletters to receive regular market commentary, research and updates from the Anchor team. Select between our Individual or Financial Advisor newsletters by selecting the relevant tab below.

WEBINAR | The Navigator – Anchor’s Strategy and Asset Allocation, 2Q24

Anchor CEO and Co-CIO Peter Armitage will host the webinar, provide an introduction to current global and local market conditions and give his thoughts on offshore equities. Together with Head of Fixed Income and Co-CIO Nolan Wapenaar, Pete will also discuss Anchor’s strategy and asset allocation for 2Q24, focusing on global equities and bonds. In addition, Fund Manager Liam Hechter will provide insights into local equities, highlighting some investment ideas; Global Equities Analyst James Bennet will discuss Ferrari and give an update on Tesla, and finally, Analyst Thomas Hendricks will participate in a Q&A with Peter, explaining the 10-year US Treasury to attendees.