The rand strengthened overnight despite US inflation and expected US interest rate hikes.
Future US inflation is predicted to break the Feds 2% target, forcing the powers that be to increase interest rates
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SA “Moody” over inflation and dollar strength
Resolute rand – The rand remains firm
The rand remains firm and opens the day below 11.80/$, spurred on by pro-rand events which transpired yesterday.
SA’s January manufacturing output rose by 2.5%, supporting the expectation that the domestic economy is gaining momentum.
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Jobs data boosts the dollar
The dollar rebounded late Friday on news of higher-than-expected US jobs growth in February.
Hourly wages moderated, easing inflation fears and concerns that the US Fed would hike interest rates 4 times this year.
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Trade war fears ease
The rand opens at 11.83/$ after emerging market currencies recovered overnight thanks to dollar weakness. The greenback weakened after Pres. Trump’s plans to impose tariffs on steel/aluminium imports took a big blow, with Democrats and Republicans being opposed to the idea (meaning the plan probably won’t become policy and a global trade war less likely)…
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SONA: Ticked, next-up: Budget – tick tock…
By all accounts President Ramaphosa’s first address to the nation was a roaring success.
All eyes now shift to the 2018 Budget Speech set for Wednesday at 14:00. The rand’s reaction to SONA was muted, with markets waiting to see Wednesday’s balancing act. National Treasury’s focus will be on how to confront the ballooning budget deficit and government debt, amongst many other issues (with the short term goal being to avoid yet another credit rating downgrade).
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Rand recovers as US Stocks whiplash
The rand broke below 12/$ overnight as US stocks clawed back more than half their losses seen Monday.
The Zuma saga continues as today’s ANC NEC meeting along with the State of the Nation Address was postponed in order to give more time for talks between Zuma and Ramaphosa (Indicating Zuma may have one foot out “the shower” door!).
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Rand slides on US inflation fears
The rand weakened overnight as a result of better than expect US Jobs numbers and wage growth released Friday, sparking fears of higher than expected US interest rate increases during 2018.
The US stock market lost 2.5% as investors cashed out to hold USD in anticipation of a Fed hike in March. The GBP/ZAR continues to flirt with the 17/£ level as a false break to 17.10/£ on Friday was given back on speculation over Zuma’s demise.
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