China is sending shockwaves through SA markets

South African stocks are feeling the pain coming from China.

The country’s benchmark equity index has posted its worst quarter since the first three months of 2020 amid concern about an energy crunch weighing on China’s economic growth and Beijing’s regulatory crackdown on key sectors including technology. China is the biggest buyer of South African raw materials.

With the 18-month rally in industrial metals on shaky ground, and the Federal Reserve poised to start scaling back stimulus, investors are preparing for more volatility in the FTSE JSE Africa All Share Index.

“The key value drivers, in terms of the currency and the commodity bull market, are weaker than they were a year ago,” said Peter Brooke, the Cape Town-based head of macro solutions at Old Mutual Investment Group, which oversees about $40 billion. “We have a big chunk of our markets linked to China.”

These charts illustrate how China’s troubles are weighing on South African stocks:

The Africa All Share Index slipped 3% in the first quarter — or more than 8% in dollar terms — and extended the decline on Friday. The technology sector was the biggest decliner as China’s regulatory crackdown cast a shadow over index heavyweights Naspers and Prosus NV, which together account for 13% of the benchmark index’s market capitalization. The two companies hold a 29% stake in Hong Kong-listed online giant Tencent Holdings, which has plunged 21 since the end of June.

A retreat in industrial and precious-metals prices since mid-September hit miners, with diversified titan Anglo American Plc sliding toward its steepest monthly drop since December 2015. Prices from iron ore to rhodium have plunged as China imposed curbs on steel production and property developments. Platinum, where South Africa accounts for about 70% of global supply, has fallen 30% from its 2021 peak.

“Retreating precious-metals prices will continue to drag on South African equities, notably in the materials sector, given the country’s exposure to platinum, palladium and gold mining,” said Bloomberg Intelligence strategists Gaurav Patankar and Nitin Chanduka.

To make matters worse, inflation is rearing its head. The five-year breakeven rate — a gauge of bond investors’ expectations of price increases over the period — climbed to the highest level since June 2019 this week. That may force the central bank to start raising interest rates. And with a struggling economy making it difficult for companies to recoup cost increases from customers, bottom lines may suffer.