South Africa’s Rand Falls Ahead of Manufacturing Data
It has been reported that South Africa’s rand backtracked early on Thursday after gaining ground in the previous session as investors opted to take profits ahead of local manufacturing data expected to highlight the weakness of the real economy. At 0700 GMT the rand was 0.12% weaker at 16.9400 per dollar.
The currency advanced more than 1% against the U.S. currency on Wednesday as concerns about rising coronavirus infections globally and in the United States prompted a selloff in the dollar as investors looked for yield in higher-risk emerging-market assets.
But this demand subsided overnight with key data releases domestically, in Europe, and weekly jobs report in the United States making investors more cautious. Manufacturing production figures for April set to be published by Statistics South Africa at 1100 GMT are likely to show a deep contraction.
Bonds were flat in early trade, with the yield on the benchmark 2030 government issue up 0.5 basis points to 9.69%. This is said to be as a result of the COVID-19 (C19’s) effect on the economy which is not only faced by the South African government but the entire world is faced with this economic downturn.
Ayooluwa Joshua