For our second poll of top economists, ZA Confidential asked whether the Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank will hike interest rates next week. And opinion was divided. Eight are predicting a rise, while seven expect no change. We did offer our respondents the chance to say it is too close to call, but no one opted for this third choice.
Here are the results:
Yes
Peter Attard Montalto of Nomura
Russell Lamberti of ETM
Dawie Roodt of the Efficient Group
John Loos from FNB
Theo Vorster from Galileo Capital
Ettienne Le Roux from RMB
Goolam Ballim of Stamdard Bank
Mike Schussler from economists.co.za
No
Annabel Bishop of Investec
Professor Eltie Links
Sake Economist of the Year Ulrich Joubert
Professor Raymond Parsons of NW University
Ian Cruickshanks of the SAIRR
Johannes Jordaan of EMS
Azar Jammine from Econometrix
Conclusion:
It will be a very close call. Savers would welcome a rise in interest rates, but for many millions of South Africans it would make tough times even tougher.
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