Rand nears R14/$ as dollar firms to 13-month peak

The rand, which lost over 2% against the dollar on Thursday, weakened again in early trade on Friday, losing another 1.3% by 12:11 to trade at R13.88 to the dollar. 

The rand last traded at over R14/$ in late November 2017.

Adam Phillips, treasury specialist at Umkhulu Consulting, warned in a morning note that the local currency could be approaching the R14/$ level. He said this was mainly due to it being "pushed" lower by fellow emerging market currencies such as the Russian rouble and the Turkish lira. 

The local currency was at around R13.30/$ ahead of the public holiday on Thursday, and has since lost over 60c to the greenback.

• READ: Turkey lira crashes to record lows in new onslaught

Bianca Botes, corporate treasury manager at Peregrine Treasury Solutions, said in a morning note that the rand's fall was linked to dollar strength. 

The dollar spot index - its value relative to a basket of six foreign currencies - firmed to 96.036 on Friday morning at 09:34, up 0.5% on the day. 

“The rand is certainly on the back foot as the dollar continues to squeeze emerging market currencies,” Botes said. US consumer price index (CPI) data is set for release on Friday and will serve as an indicator of investor expectations of interest rate hikes.  “The general consensus is for CPI in the US to rise, which will certainly add to emerging market currency woes,” said Botes.

* This article was updated at 12:11 on Friday 11 August to reflect the latest rand/dollar exchange rate. 

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