NOW ep95: Global economy: Recession or recovery?

Loading player...
Recession risks, inflation pressures, and trade tensions - how is the global economy shaping up in 2025? Investec’s Chief Economists, Phil Shaw (UK) and Annabel Bishop (SA), take stock of the latest trends in No Ordinary Wednesday. From global growth forecasts to the economic outlook for Europe and South Africa, they break down what lies ahead.

Podcast key moments:

00:00 – Introduction
01:02 - How will the evolution of US trade, defence, and foreign aid policies influencing the global macroeconomic outlook in the coming months?
02:21 - What are the key factors influencing your global economic growth projections?
03:53 - GDP growth in South Africa for 2025 is likely to fall below 1.5%, what’s contributing to this downward revision?
05:41 - What will be the implications of slower growth on business confidence in South Africa?
06:33 – Was there anything in South Africa's Budget Speech 2025 that could turn the economic tide?
07:56 - What factors are you watching that would determine the growth path of the US in the coming months? Is a recession looming?
09:47 - What are some of the main headwinds currently affecting economic growth in Europe?
11:17 - What changes might we see due to new leadership changes in the EU?
12:49 - Do you see any challenges for European nations given their current fiscal positions?
14:28 – What stimulatory measures should the South African government be looking at to accelerate growth?
16:36 - What are those emerging economies contending with when it comes to economic growth? And how does that impact the global economy?
19:36 - What factors are you watching that could derail global growth?
20:49 - How has the fragmentation of the global economy influenced South Africa's trade relationships and economic strategy?

Read more on www.investec.com/now

Hosted by seasoned broadcaster, Jeremy Maggs, the No Ordinary Wednesday podcast unpacks the latest economic, business and political news in South Africa, with an all-star cast of investment and wealth managers, economists and financial planners from Investec. Listen in every second Wednesday for an in-depth look at what's moving markets, shaping the economy, and changing the game for your wallet and your business.
Chapters
  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:02 How will the evolution of US trade, defence, and foreign aid policies influencing the global macroeconomic outlook in the coming months?
  • 02:21 What are the key factors influencing your stance global economic growth projections?
  • 03:53 GDP growth in South Africa for 2025 is likely to fall below 1.5%, what’s contributing to this downward revision?
  • 05:41 What will be the implications of slower growth on business confidence?
  • 06:33 Was there anything in Budget Speech 2025 that could turn the economic tide?
  • 07:56 What factors are you watching that would determine the growth path of the US in the coming months? Is a recession looming?
  • 09:47 What are some of the main headwinds currently affecting economic growth in Europe?
  • 11:17 What changes might we see due to new leadership changes in the EU?
  • 12:49 Do you see any challenges for European nations given their current fiscal positions?
  • 14:28 What stimulatory measures should the South African government be looking at to accelerate growth?
  • 16:36 What are emerging economies contending with when it comes to economic growth? And how does that impact the global economy?
  • 19:36 What factors are you watching that could derail global growth?
  • 20:49 How has the fragmentation of the global economy influenced South Africa's trade relationships and economic strategy?
17 Mar 2025 English South Africa Business · Investing

Other recent episodes

Everything Counts | Episode 52: Has saving lost its meaning?

We've all heard the advice. Save more. Spend less. Start earlier. In this episode of Everything Counts, Motheo Khoaripe is joined by Investec's Nirvashni Rajkumar (KZN team leader for the Investec financial planning team) and Dorothy Asomaning (Investec Wealth & Investment Wealth Manager) to explore why saving is about much…
28 Jul 27 min

Macro Monday Ep125: Excellent earnings season so far

Although US earnings for the second quarter have mostly beaten expectations, markets appear to have wanted more. Chris Holdsworth, Global Chief Investment Officer, Investec Investment Management, says even companies such as Alphabet that have beaten forecasts have seen declines in their prices after results.
27 Jul 7 min

Macro Monday Ep124: AI capex and competition concerns weigh on stock markets

Increased competition among LLMs and uncertainty about the return on investment on AI capex are all weighing on the market performance on momentum stocks, such as semiconductor firms. Chris Holdsworth, Global Chief Investment Officer, Investec Investment Management, looks at some of the dynamics in global stock markets.
20 Jul 8 min

NOW Ep 131: South Africa’s consumer crunch

Are South African consumers past the worst of the fuel shock? Household budgets have been hit by higher fuel prices, rising inflation and pressure on real wages. But fuel prices are starting to fall. The risk is timing. Will relief arrive before households are forced to cut back further? Host…
14 Jul 24 min

Everything Counts | Episode 51: Managing global travel disruption

In this episode of Everything Counts, we unpack the real-world impact of geopolitical tension on global travel, from grounded flights and closed airspace to the human stories behind stranded passengers. What happens behind the scenes when airlines, advisors, and entire systems are forced to respond in real time? Host Motheo…
14 Jul 29 min