Johannesburg - The rand extended losses against the US dollar to 1.5 percent on Tuesday, falling to a new 13-year low as emerging market currencies tumbled on heightened expectations that US interest rates could rise by mid year.
The rand hit a session trough of 12.31/dollar and it was among the five weakest performers in a basket of 25 emerging market currencies monitored by Reuters.
As reported earlier on Tuesday:
South Africa's rand slipped to a new 13-year low against the dollar early on Tuesday, extending recent losses as investors continued to chase the US currency and sentiment towards domestic growth prospects remained downbeat.
By 06h26 GMT the local unit had conceded 0.71 percent to 12.1755 per dollar, having earlier tumbled to a new 13-year low and with the 13.8400 support level, last reached in March 2001, becoming a growing possibility.
The rand has lost more than 7 percent since February as the US dollar firmed on economic indicators affirming market bets of an upcoming rate hike.
“Investors are exceedingly concerned about how capital inflows to South Africa will hold up once US monetary policy normalisation starts,” analysts from NKC Independent Economists said in note to clients.
The rand failed to gain from Standard and Poor's comments late on Monday that it was unlikely to downgrade South Africa's BBB- credit status in the next 24 months.
Traders preferred to focus on underlying economic weaknesses, including chronic electricity shortages and labour unrest.
“These fears are exacerbated by South Africa's gaping current account deficit,” NKC analysts added.
China's producer price index declined 4.8 percent in February, the worst reading since October 2009, hitting emerging market currencies.
South African government bonds were weaker as yields in the US continued to climb. The heavily-traded government paper due in 2026 added 2.5 basis points to 7.97 percent ahead of an auction at 09h00 GMT.
Reuters