Tag: inflation forecast

Global financial markets whipsawed in 2020 in reaction to a devastating COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent decisions taken by governments and policymakers to protect citizens and keep economies afloat. Higher levels of uncertainty were reflected in the initial spike in the CBOE Volatility Index (Vix) in March 2020 before unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus calmed markets during the year. 

With a unanimous decision, members of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) voted on 17 January to keep interest rates unchanged, in line with analyst expectations. This follows an interest rate hike of 25 basis points (bps) in November 2018, which brought the repo and prime lending rates to 6.75% and 10.25%, respectively.