27.04.202612:57:52UTC+00South African Rand Slightly Firmer

The South African rand strengthened to around 16.5 per USD, recovering from the two-week low of 16.6 per USD reached on April 23, as a softer US dollar and improved risk appetite supported emerging-market currencies. Sentiment brightened on renewed hopes for progress toward resolving the Middle East crisis, after reports that Iran had proposed a three-stage framework for reviving talks with the United States following stalled discussions in Pakistan. The plan is said to address an end to the conflict, security in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran’s nuclear programme.

At the same time, traders remained focused on inflation dynamics and monetary policy signals. South African Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago flagged an increased probability of further interest rate hikes, stressing that the Bank would act against sustained inflationary pressures linked to the US–Israeli conflict with Iran and reiterating its strong commitment to the 3% inflation target. Headline inflation in South Africa ticked up to 3.1% in March from 3.0% in February, and the full impact of higher oil prices and broader global cost pressures has yet to feed through to consumer prices, with steeper increases anticipated in the months ahead.