News

Join Sanlam Private Wealth and the South African Chamber of Commerce on the 29 January 2019 at 08am for a presentation by Pieter Fourie, Fund Manager of the award-winning Sanlam Global
High Quality Equity Fund. Pieter will give an insightful overview on Global Equities and how to navigate volatility using a proven high quality approach.

After weeks of falling asset prices, markets have started to recognise the value in beaten down stocks. Volatility has declined whilst both equity and bond markets have stabilised slightly.

Pressure is building on central banks to lower interest rates and help the global economy stave off the threat of recession. The European Central Bank (ECB) failed to deliver a rate cut in July, but the US Federal Reserve (Fed), after much talk, finally ‘walked the walk’ on the last day of the month and reduced interest rates for the first time since 2008.

Like many developing countries, the South African government relies on funding to build and maintain the infrastructure of the country. To enjoy continued access to loans (in the form of government bonds) at affordable interest rates, it’s important that we keep our credit rating healthy.

Today, the Sanlam Real Assets Fund reaches its first birthday.

Managed by Mike Pinggera and his team, the Fund was launched in response to demand from existing investors for increased exposure to real assets; a key component of the award winning Sanlam Multi-Strategy Fund since its launch in 2013.

Towards the end of last month, we took another step closer to a ‘no deal’ Brexit with the approval of a suspended parliament in September. While critics declared it a ‘constitutional outrage’, it was the latest twist in what has been an extraordinary political saga. As several risk factors converge (Brexit, US-China trade war, the threat of recession and inflation concerns), the outlook for the remainder of 2019 is unquestionably opaque. But to what extent should investors worry? Here we discuss the risks at large, and why they are not necessarily to be feared.

Sanlam UK has acquired a 55% stake in Cheshire-based IFA firm Avidus Scott Lang (ASL), marking its fourth M&A deal of the year.
The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal doubles Sanlam’s footprint in the north of England to six offices.
ASL founders Dean Scott and Jimmy Lang will move to Sanlam UK, along with its 12 financial advisers and support staff.

An impeachment enquiry has formally begun in the US, with President Trump accused of seeking foreign help to smear the reputation of Democratic candidate Joe Biden. The controversy revolves around a phone call whereby Trump is heard trying to convince Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate claims of corruption involving Joe Biden’s son.

With the threat of a global recession hanging over equity markets, and many bond yields in negative territory, we find ourselves faced with something of a conundrum. While we want to shelter portfolios from potential volatility, safer assets are offering very low returns and are at risk should inflation  begin to rise.