For South Africa's rand it's all about timing
July 23 (Reuters) -South Africa's rand has entered a holding pattern versus the dollar following a period of weakness as the market attempts to second guess the timing of a domestic rate cut and a move down in U.S. interest rates.
Recent weakening in the rand can be blamed on a dovish hold by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) at its July policy meeting. The central bank also lowered its inflation expectations, adding fuel to the view that a SARB rate cut could be seen as soon as September. Before the July Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting market expectations had been for the first South African rate cut to take place in 2025.
The rand has seen a 2.4% depreciation since July 11 and despite a bout of consolidation, Friday into Monday, USD/ZAR has a bullish tilt as domestic and external factors work against the rand.
Fear of protectionism should Donald Trump win the U.S. presidential race, the SARB's policy shift and broader market risk aversion have leaned on the rand and diluted some of the investor optimism surrounding the new South African government.
USD/ZAR targets a 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level at 18.3881, taken off the 18.6650-17.9400 July 2-11 drop. However, a move back below the 10-day moving average, currently 18.1610, could damage the recent bull run.
For more click on FXBUZ
USD/ZAR daily candle chart: https://tmsnrt.rs/3xYFvOp
(Peter Stoneham is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own)
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