Trending 
The South African rand weakened in early trading on Monday, as investors focused on key economic data expected later in the week and watched closely ahead of the August 1 deadline for US President Donald Trump’s country-specific tariffs.
At 05:24 GMT, the rand was trading at 17.7475 to the dollar, marking a 0.2% decline from Friday’s close.
The currency, known for its sensitivity to risk, lost ground last week and continues to struggle as traders remain cautious ahead of possible tariff developments. South Africa is facing a potential 30% duty on its exports to the United States, alongside an interest rate decision from the South African Reserve Bank scheduled for Thursday.
Many analysts and traders anticipate another rate cut following a modest rise in inflation in June, which brought it just within the central bank’s target range.
Investors are also watching several economic indicators for further insight into South Africa’s economy, including money supply and private sector credit data due on Tuesday, budget balance figures on Wednesday, and both producer inflation and trade balance data on Thursday.
South Africa’s benchmark 2035 government bond showed slight strength in early trading, with the yield dipping 1.5 basis points to 9.835%.
