Japan Finance Minister Defends PM Takaichi’s Remarks on Weak Yen Benefits 
Oil Prices Slide Nearly 3% as U.S.-Iran Talks Ease Geopolitical Tensions 
Philippines Manufacturing PMI Hits Nine-Month High Despite Weak Confidence Outlook 
JPMorgan Lifts Gold Price Forecast to $6,300 by End-2026 on Strong Central Bank and Investor Demand 
South Korea Inflation Hits Five-Month Low as CPI Reaches Central Bank Target 
Dollar Holds Firm as Strong U.S. Data, Fed Expectations and Global Central Bank Moves Shape Markets 
U.S. Stock Futures Rise as Investors Eye Big Tech Earnings and AI Momentum 
IMF Forecasts Global Inflation Decline as Growth Remains Resilient 
UK Employers Plan Moderate Pay Rises as Inflation Pressures Ease but Persist 
Taiwan Urges Stronger Trade Ties With Fellow Democracies, Rejects Economic Dependence on China 
EU Recovery Fund Faces Bottlenecks Despite Driving Digital and Green Projects 
Starmer’s China Visit Highlights Western Balancing Act Amid U.S.-China Rivalry 
Gold and Asian Stocks Rebound as Market Volatility Eases and Global Sentiment Improves 
Asian Currencies Strengthen as Indian Rupee and Australian Dollar Rally 
Asian Markets Slide as Silver Volatility, Earnings Season, and Central Bank Meetings Rattle Investors 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Markets Brace for Big Tech Earnings and Key Data 
South Africa's Inflation Overview
South Africa's headline consumer inflation decreased to 3.8% year-on-year in September, down from 4.4% in August, as reported by the national statistics agency on Wednesday. This decline exceeded economists' expectations, with forecasts predicting a drop to 3.9%.
Month-on-Month Inflation Rates
In month-on-month terms, inflation remained steady at 0.1% in September, mirroring the previous month's performance. The current inflation rate sits significantly below the 4.5% target set by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB).
Potential for Interest Rate Cuts
This latest inflation reading may bolster the SARB's case for an additional interest rate cut during its upcoming monetary policy meeting in November. The SARB had already implemented its first rate cut in over four years last month, suggesting a shift in its monetary policy stance. At the September meeting, the SARB acknowledged the faster-than-expected inflation decline but maintained a cautious outlook due to ongoing risks.
Conclusion
With inflation now at a lower level than anticipated, market analysts will closely watch the SARB’s upcoming decisions, as further cuts could influence South Africa's economic landscape positively.
