STANLIB Podcasts

In this podcast, STANLIB Asset Management’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, examines the latest US and South African employment data, exploring why the US economy continues to create jobs while South Africa's formal sector employment remains under pressure. In June, the US added 57,000 non-farm jobs, supporting steady economic growth despite ongoing global uncertainty. Meanwhile, South Africa lost a...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses whether US inflation has peaked yet, and a plunge in South African consumer confidence. US headline PCE inflation for May was at 4.1% y/y, but since end-April the oil price has fallen almost 34%. This should bring down inflation in June – however there may be other inflationary pressures, which would force the US Fed to hike rates.

Markets are constantly evolving, testing investor conviction through volatility, changing sentiment and short-term uncertainty. In these moments, a disciplined and systematic investment approach can help investors remain objective and focused on their long-term goals. In this episode, Rademeyer Vermaak, Head of Systematic Solutions at STANLIB Asset Management, talks to Jeremy Maggs about the inves...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s chief economist, Kevin Lings, discusses South Africa’s May inflation rate, which increased by 4.5% year-on-year, mainly due to the fuel price. He notes, however, that there are few signs of secondary inflation effects in key categories. Kevin also unpacks some of the important changes to US monetary policy, and Federal Reserve market communication under new Fed chairman...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses the 4.5% y/y increase in SA’s May inflation rate, mainly due to the fuel price. However, he notes few signs of secondary effects in key categories. He also unpacks some of the important changes to US monetary policy, including its communication to the market, under new Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh. STANLIB is an authorised Fin...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses SA’s GDP numbers for Q1, which surprised a little to the upside, and expectations of what economic growth could look like for the rest of the year. He looks at sectoral contributions and notes that manufacturing remains a weak spot in the economy, as manufacturing production also declined, and stresses the need to be closer to othe...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses US labour market data, where the US created 172 000 jobs in May, way more jobs than anticipated, with the previous two months also revised higher. He also looks at Fitch’s decision to upgrade SA’s credit rating one notch to BB, still two notches below investment grade, with the rerating influenced by improvements in fiscal balances...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses the SARB’s decision to hike interest rates by 25 bps and the risk of more hikes if the US/Iran conflict continues. The SARB indicated it was concerned about second-round effects from the higher oil price and remains determined to achieve its 3% inflation goal. Kevin also analyses latest SA government revenue collection data. STANLI...

In the eleventh episode of our “The More You Know” series, Johan Marnewick, Head of Fixed Income Private Markets at STANLIB, and Karishma Bhoolia, Senior Climate Risk Analyst at JustShare, discuss what is needed to give investors in impact projects greater confidence about their effectiveness. STANLIB is an authorised Financial Services Provider in terms of FAIS and a registered manager in terms o...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses Moody’s encouraging review of SA from stable to positive, although GDP growth is necessary to get a full upgrade. April inflation, which is up at 4%, reflects a sizeable increase in food prices and an adjustment to medical aid inflation, while retail sales increased modestly as consumer income came under pressure.

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses the upcoming SA Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee meeting, when a 25 bps interest rate hike is expected, as well as latest US inflation data. US CPI in April rose 3.8% y/y – and this does not yet fully reflect the increase in gasoline prices. In the short term, though, US interest rates are expected to be held, with the risk o...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, focuses on recent US labour market data, which is key to the performance of the economy. Labour market conditions appear to have improved in the last two months, with the economy adding an impressive number of jobs, despite the Middle East conflict and investment in AI. STANLIB is an authorised Financial Services Provider in terms of FAIS an...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses the below-forecast 2% q/q growth in US GDP in the first quarter, which indicates the economy is being largely sustained by AI investment. He also discusses recent global central banks’ decisions to hold interest rates, and how this is likely to influence the SA Reserve Bank. STANLIB Asset Management (Pty) Ltd is an authorised Finan...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses the factors that influenced the surprisingly low increase in US PPI data for March, which is showing no second-round effects from tariffs and the higher oil price. However, he cautions it is still early to predict the direction of US interest rates. He also examines latest Chinese economic data, which shows manufacturing activity g...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, analyses the increase in US inflation in March to 3.3% from 2.4%, largely due to oil price pressure – gasoline prices rose 21% in the month. Inflation is likely to stay above 3% for some time, above the US Federal Reserve 2% target. Inflation concerns are reflected in consumer confidence data. He also looks at the implications of the long-te...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, unpacks the SA Reserve Bank’s three scenarios for inflation and interest rates, depending on the duration of the Middle East war. He also discusses SA’s April hikes in petrol and diesel prices – the biggest increases that SA has ever seen in one month – and their implications. STANLIB Asset Management (Pty) Ltd is an authorised Financial Ser...

South Africa’s infrastructure requires urgent investment after 30 years of underspending. How can private equity and private credit work together to bridge the significant funding gap? In the ninth episode of "The More You Know," Marisa Bester (COO of Infrastructure Investment at STANLIB) and Johan Marnewick (Head of Fixed Income Private Markets) join host Jeremy Maggs to discuss mobilising capita...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses the effect of the oil price on SA fuel prices, currently pointing to petrol increasing by around R6.50 a litre and diesel by R11 a litre in April. This is expected to cause shocks in the consumer and business sectors and feed into inflation, taking the inflation rate from a comfortable 3% to over 4.5%. The Reserve Bank is expected...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses how the war in the Middle East, now in its 17th day and going on longer than most people anticipated, continues to affect the oil price. At over $100 and with no end in sight to the war in the short term, there are implications for inflation, with most central banks not contemplating interest rate cuts and a risk-off trade unfoldin...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses two topics: The latest developments in the Middle East and their effect on the oil price; and disappointing US labour market data. Escalation of the Middle East conflict has resulted in a dramatic increase in the oil price, which could see petrol and diesel prices shoot up in April and cause upward inflation pressure. STANLIB Asset...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses two topics: the potential effects of the escalating war in Iran; and broadening private sector credit demand in SA. The war has triggered a rise in safe-haven assets, including gold, and in the oil price. For SA, the effect may be to push inflation higher, deferring interest rate cuts. STANLIB Asset Management (Pty) Ltd is an autho...

In this podcast, STANLIB Asset Management’s deputy head of fixed income, Sylvester Kobo, highlights key positives in the National Budget that caused bond yields to firm. Investors welcomed the announcement of a cut in debt issuance and credit rating agencies are expected to respond with an upgrade to the country’s credit rating later this year, which should provide further support for the rand and...

In this podcast, STANLIB Asset Management’s chief economist, Kevin Lings, analyses the main features of the 2026 Budget Speech, which was welcomed by equity, bond and currency markets. The Budget showed further progress in fiscal discipline in six critical parameters, including cutting the budget deficit, keeping government expenditure below revenue, and introducing a fiscal anchor. However, a mor...

In this podcast, STANLIB’s Chief Economist, Kevin Lings, discusses disappointing US Q4 2025 GDP growth of 1.4% q/q, which was largely due to the 43-day government shutdown. Underlying growth, at 2.2% y/y, is below long-term averages. However, latest US core PCE inflation was above expectations, at 3% y/y, exceeding the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, which may deter aggressive interest rate cuts. In...

In this episode of The More You Know, Jeremy Maggs interviews STANLIB Asset Management CEO, Derrick Msibi, who argues that Africa has the potential to attract capital more broadly than only to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), which many investors mistakenly treat as a proxy for the entire continent. He proposes three key policy moves that would help to move the continent onto the investment...