The rand
What a rand buys abroad.
The rand against the four currencies that matter most to South African shelves: the dollar, the euro, the pound and the yuan. How far it has moved, and what could move it next.
Rand weaker: red. Rand stronger: blue. A higher number means more rand for one unit of the other currency.
1 yearA year of the rand.
The rand over a year, rebased to 100. Above 100 means the rand has weakened against that currency.
ConvertRand in, currency out.
Coming upWhat could move it.
High-impact releases in the next two weeks, from South Africa and the economies the rand trades against.
| When (SAST) | Where | Release | Forecast | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, 09 October, 16:00 | United States | Michigan Consumer Sentiment Prel | 47.6 | 48.1 |
| Tuesday, 13 October, 16:00 | United States | Existing Home Sales | – | 3.98 |
| Wednesday, 14 October, 03:30 | China | Inflation Rate YoY | – | 0.8 |
| Wednesday, 14 October, 05:00 | China | Imports YoY | – | 28.2 |
| Wednesday, 14 October, 05:00 | China | Exports YoY | – | 25 |
| Wednesday, 14 October, 05:00 | China | Balance of Trade | – | 119.1 |
| Wednesday, 14 October, 14:30 | United States | Core Inflation Rate MoM | – | 0.3 |
| Wednesday, 14 October, 14:30 | United States | Core Inflation Rate YoY | – | 2.4 |
| Wednesday, 14 October, 14:30 | United States | Inflation Rate MoM | – | 0.4 |
| Wednesday, 14 October, 14:30 | United States | Inflation Rate YoY | – | 3.4 |
Why the rand matters to shoppers
- Much of what South Africans buy is imported or priced off imports: fuel, electronics, clothing, medicines and many food inputs. A weaker rand pushes those prices up over the following months.
- Petrol and diesel are priced from international oil prices in dollars, so the rand feeds straight into the monthly fuel price adjustment.
- JSE groups that earn in other currencies, such as TFG in the UK or Naspers through Tencent, report more rand profit when the rand weakens.
- What drives the dollar against the rand: USD/ZAR Edge
Exchange rates are daily closes from Yahoo Finance and may differ from the rate your bank gives you, which includes its margin. Information, not advice.
QuestionsGood to know.
The rand is one of the most traded emerging market currencies, so global appetite for risk, US interest rates, commodity prices and local news all move it quickly.
Usually, with a lag. Imported goods and fuel cost more in rand, and retailers pass some of that on over the following months.
No. These are market rates. Banks and bureaux add a margin, so the rate you get for cash or a card payment abroad is less favourable.
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