South African rand claws back losses as markets bet on US rate cuts soon
Updates prices to reflect afternoon trade
JOHANNESBURG, July 16 (Reuters) -The South African rand clawed back some losses on Tuesday, after tumbling on Monday, on rising expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve will soon cut interest rates.
At 1508 GMT, the rand traded at 18.0750 against the dollar ZAR=D3, about 0.7% stronger than its previous close.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said on Monday that recent U.S. inflation readings have somewhat added to confidence that the pace of price increases is sustainably returning to the Fed's target, driving hopes that interest rate cuts are nearing.
The rand had slipped more than 1% against the greenback on Monday as investor appetite for riskier assets waned globally after the assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump.
"The rand obviously had a tough start to the week, which was widely attributed to the 'Trump Trade', although (the) general underperformance of other EM currencies yesterday and strong recovery today suggests that there may be more to it," said Danny Greeff of ETM Analytics.
"Sentiment towards South Africa remains bullish, while prospective rate cuts in the developed world will aid in the rand's broader recovery," he told Reuters.
Locally, investors will focus on the South African Reserve Bank's interest rate decision and President Cyril Ramaphosa's opening address to parliament, both on Thursday.
A Reuters poll predicted that the SARB will leave its repo rate unchanged on Thursday, but cut rates by 25 basis points to 8.00% in September as inflation cools, earlier than a November move that was expected in a June survey.
On the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the blue-chip Top-40 index .JTOPI closed 1.50% lower, while the all-share index .JALSH was down 1.25%.
South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond ZAR2030= was stronger, with the yield down 2 basis points to 9.555%.
Reporting by Tannur Anders and Nellie Peyton; Editing by Susan Fenton and Alison Williams
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