Risk-Sensitive South African Rand Weakens Amidst Escalating Geopolitical Tensions

By Samkele Mchunu

Reports of Israeli Attack on Iran Sends Currency Markets into Volatility

South Africa’s rand witnessed a tumultuous start on Friday, succumbing to volatility in the wake of reports suggesting an Israeli attack on Iran. The escalating tensions between the two longstanding adversaries triggered a sell-off of risk assets, causing currency markets to spiral.

According to sources, Israel initiated the attack on Iranian soil, further exacerbating the already strained relations between the two nations. Iranian state media reported the downing of drones in response to the attack.

Initially, the rand plummeted to a near two-month low of 19.3800 against the dollar as investors rushed towards safe-haven assets like the dollar and gold. However, a semblance of calm emerged in the markets after a senior Iranian official indicated that Iran had no immediate plans for retaliation.

Andre Cilliers, a currency strategist at TreasuryONE, noted, “Diminished concern over a broader regional conflict, as Iran reported minimal damage to its infrastructure and confirmed no impact on its nuclear sites, contributed to the markets’ partial recovery.”

As of 0802 GMT, the rand was trading at 19.2300 against the dollar, marking a 0.38% decline from its previous close. Concurrently, on the stock market, both the Top-40 and the broader all-share indices experienced a downturn, trading approximately 0.7% weaker in early sessions.

While the dollar witnessed a marginal 0.1% decline against a basket of currencies, it remained close to a five-month high, reflecting ongoing market apprehensions.

Neil Shearing, the chief economist at Capital Economics, suggested that Iran’s decision to lift flight restrictions might have also contributed to market stabilization. “This might indicate that the attack was at the more moderate end of the spectrum,” he remarked in a research note.

As geopolitical tensions continue to simmer, investors are closely monitoring further developments and their potential impact on global markets, including the South African economy.

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