JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South Africa’s rand was stable on Tuesday amid market caution about U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff plans and geopolitical stance.
As of 1501 GMT, the rand traded at 18.3725 against the dollar, near its previous close of 18.3750. The dollar last traded about 0.4% weaker against a basket of currencies.
Investors have traded cautiously after Trump said tariffs on Mexico and Canada would proceed as planned.
South Africa’s composite leading business cycle indicator fell 1.8% month-on-month in December, central bank data showed on Tuesday.
Domestic-focussed investors await January consumer inflation figures on Wednesday and producer inflation data for the same month on Thursday for clues on the health of Africa’s most industrialised economy.
On the stock market, the Top-40 index closed about 0.5% higher.
South Africa’s benchmark 2030 government bond was stronger, with the yield down 5 basis point to 9.065%.
(Reporting by Tannur Anders, Sfundo Parakozov and Bhargav Acharya; Editing by Rashmi Aich and Tomasz Janowski)
