Rand firmer in early trade

The rand strengthened to a five-week high and government bonds firmed on Thursday after the US Federal Reserve signalled possible interest rate cuts later this year, sending the dollar and US Treasury yields lower.

At 0645 GMT, the rand traded at 14.27 per dollar, 0.31% firmer than New York close on Wednesday. The currency was trading at its best levels since May 16.

In fixed income, the yield on the benchmark government bond due in 2026 dipped 11 basis points to 8.07%.

The market’s main focus for the day will be on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state of the nation address at 1700 GMT.

Ramaphosa is expected to give details of an Eskom support package as pressure mounts on him to deliver on his election pledge to jump-start flagging growth and avoid losing the country’s investment-grade credit rating.

“After the market has digested the signals from the Fed more or less, the President’s State of the Nation Address should come into focus for the rand in the evening,” Commerzbank analysts wrote in a note.

“If he succeeds in showing a promising strategy here, the rand should benefit. But in view of the … tasks ahead of him, the potential for disappointment is also high.”

Stocks were set to open higher at 0700 GMT, with the JSE securities exchange’s Top-40 futures index up 0.92%.