Monthly Market Highlights | The March 2026 Edition
Our Monthly Market Highlights focuses on concise written insights, providing a clear overview of the most important economic and market developments from the previous month. In March, global central banks—including the SARB, Fed and ECB—held interest rates steady as policymakers continued to assess inflation and economic conditions.
Economic Review | The March 2026 Edition
Manufacturing activity in the US gained momentum in March, but the outlook is clouded by rising inflationary pressures, driven by geopolitical tensions and ongoing tariff-related costs. In China, industrial and manufacturing output growth strengthened, and it experienced the fastest expansion in foreign trade for several years. South Africa’s economy grew in the fourth quarter of 2025, extending its streak of consecutive quarterly expansions and underscoring its resilience despite a challenging global environment.
Economic Review | The February 2026 Edition
US economic growth softened more than expected in the fourth quarter, though consumer and business spending remained resilient, while China saw its strongest rise in consumer inflation in over three years amid holiday spending and easing factory‑gate deflation. Meanwhile, Middle East tensions drove global oil and gas prices sharply higher, and South Africa’s positively received national budget supported the bond market.
The advice landscape is changing ‒ just not in the way most advisers think
The advice profession is changing, but not because of better products or faster technology. Deeper structural shifts are reshaping how advice businesses grow, price, and stay relevant in an environment of rising complexity and consolidation. Understanding these shifts and responding with clarity and focus is becoming a defining advantage for independent advisers.