STANLIB’s Fixed Income team positions defensively amid turbulence

Loading player...

In Q1, positive news on domestic inflation and progress on Treasury’s fiscal consolidation plans were countered by disagreements around the South African Budget and tariff announcements from the US, says STANLIB’s Deputy Head of Fixed Income, Sylvester Kobo. As a result, bond yields drifted higher through the quarter. Sylvester analyses the positioning of the Flexible Income Fund amid the heightened uncertainty and whether domestic interest rate cuts are likely.

Any commentary or forecasts indicated in this document are for information purposes only and not guaranteed to occur. Additional information about products/funds is available on the Minimum Disclosure Document/Factsheets which can be obtained from the website (www.stanlib.com).

23 Apr English South Africa Investing · Business News

Other recent episodes

System readiness is key to a successful JIBAR to ZARONIA transition

Welcome to the STANLIB Corporate Conversations Podcast Series – our newest resource designed to offer timely, expert insights into the forces shaping financial and fixed income markets. Our first episode focuses on a significant development in South Africa’s financial landscape — the transition from the long-standing Johannesburg Interbank Average Rate…

12 Jun 8 min

SA economy stays sluggish; US still adding jobs

In Q1 2025, the South African economy grew by 0.1% q/q and by 0.8% y/y. Over 10 years, it has grown by 0.7% a year on average while the population is growing at 1.4% a year. STANLIB Chief Economist Kevin Lings discusses sector-specific performances and policies that could stimulate growth,…

9 Jun 12 min

SARB expects lower SA inflation, while US tariff uncertainty persists

The South African Reserve Bank has cut the repo rate by 25 bps to 7.25%, citing slowing economic growth, says STANLIB Chief Economist Kevin Lings. The bank revised down its estimates of growth and inflation for this year and may announce a new lower inflation target of 2-4%, in line…

2 Jun 9 min

SA’s April inflation remains subdued; US tax bill will push debt higher

SA’s inflation rate for April, at 2.8%, is fairly subdued, partly because prices of goods being imported from China are in deflation. A cut of 25 bps by the SARB later this week would be justified, given both low inflation and low growth forecasts, and would provide welcome stimulus for…

26 May 10 min

Impact of SA's 2025 Budget on fixed income markets

In this podcast, Sylvester Kobo, STANLIB’s Deputy Head of Fixed Income, discusses the implications of the third iteration of the 2025 Budget on the bond market. He highlights how the Budget could affect fixed income investments, particularly in light of lower GDP growth and inflation forecasts. Discover why the bond…

21 May 4 min

All episodes