The rand lost 2% against the USD yesterday, as markets had another ‘taper tantrum’.
March US retail sales were revised upwards to 0.8% (Month on month), raising fears that the US Fed may indeed …….
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The markets troughs another tantrum
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Are things ‘back on the bus’ now with Trump?
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It’s all aboard the Trumplomacy bus, as President Trump offered China an olive branch yesterday, renewing hope that a ‘trade ‘war’ could be avoided……..
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You miss one and then hit one
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Fridays nonfarm payrolls figures missed the mark (163k vs. 193k expected), while unemployment data reached a 17-year low of 3.9
The job numbers confirm strength in the dollar, with the rand opening at 12.53/$ this morning. This week could see EM ….
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The Rand Losts Its Ground
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The rand lost ground yesterday as SA lost out to exemption from the US steel and aluminum import tariffs (25% and 10% respectively).
An increase in the oil price and a stronger dollar added to the rands demise. The tone of tonight’s Fed interest……..
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Spike in “Black gold” rally stirs inflation fears.
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The recent spike in oil prices could fuel global inflationary pressures, which has bolstered the USD to a 2 week high.
Rising US bond yields and easing concerns over geopolitical risks has also positively weighed on the greenback ……..
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Things are going slow and steady
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The rand is stable as markets wait for significant news/data to find new direction.
Risk appetite has returned, but with continuous geo-political tensions, fears over a trade war and future Fed hikes, the local unit will most likely continue to trade in its current range. In global news:
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Is this Mission accomplished?
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The rand held its ground after the US, France and Britain launched a “successful” air strike against Syrian chemical facilities on Friday.
The dollar strengthened after markets were convinced that the strike was a once-off event, but global equity markets weakened and Brent Crude Oil reached its highest price since 2014 at 72 USD/barrel.
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The rand continues to trade side-ways against the USD
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First up is US consumer price inflation, which is expected to come in around 2.4% (ahead of the 2% target and fuelling interest rate increase fears).
The US Fed is next, where March’s meeting minutes should provide insight into how many interest rates hikes……..
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Trade wars between US and China continues
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US and China tensions continues to grab the headlines, despite disappointing US jobs data Friday.
The US created 103k jobs in March, a far cry from the expected 188k, with unemployment remaining at 4.1%. Emerging markets have recovered slightly, with the rand hugging 12/$. President Trump called China’s bluff over the weekend, threatening another $100bn in tariffs.
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Credit Ratings Agency Moody’s shows us the light
Friday night ended on a high, with no dreaded downgrade from credit ratings agency Moody’s.
The announcement was greatly welcomed as it was supported with the outlook being changed to stable, which looks to restore some
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