JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -South Africa’s rand weakened against the dollar on Friday, after data showed the country’s trade surplus narrowed significantly in August.
At 1646 GMT, the rand traded at 18.0700 against the dollar, 0.63% weaker than its previous close.
South Africa recorded a trade surplus of 7.18 billion rand ($397.34 million) in August, down from a 24.81 billion rand surplus in July, data from the revenue service showed.
On a month-on-month basis, imports were up 10.4%, while exports dropped 1%.
“The weakness in the country’s exports reflects the deterioration in global demand conditions and softer prices for key export commodities,” analysts at Nedbank said in a research note.
The dollar index, which measures the safe-haven currency against a basket of rivals, was last up 0.47% at 112.33.
Stocks on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange rose, with the Top-40 index closing 0.82% higher and the broader all-share index ending up 0.73%.
The government’s benchmark 2030 bond was higher, with the yield down 5 basis points to 10.885%.
($1 = 18.0702 rand)
(Reporting by Anait Miridzhanian in Johannesburg and Bhargav Acharya in Bengaluru; Editing by Jan Harvey and Ken Ferris)
