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Feb 03 2012 19:08
The rand firmed against the dollar in late afternoon trade following the release of better-than-expected US jobs data.
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Johannesburg - South African bonds were firmer in midday play on Friday, on the back of a slightly firmer rand.
US jobs data due later in the day is likely to determine the dollar's - and hence the rand's - direction going into the weekend.
By 11:50 the benchmark R157 bond was bid at 7.240% from 7.265% at its close on Thursday. The benchmark R207 was bid at 7.935% from 7.955%, while the R186 was bid at 8.010% from 8.030%.
The rand was bid at R7.2025 to the dollar from R7.2265 at its previous close.
"Bonds are firmer on rand strength, but this could change after the US jobs data out a bit later. Reaction to this data is usually unpredictable," said a local trader.
Earlier in the day another trader said that all eyes would be on key US payrolls data out later in the day.
Dow Jones Newswires said that the monthly payrolls data have a strong effect on the dollar's performance.
"Weakness on the employment front is taken as a signal that the US recovery remains tepid, which would encourage the Federal Reserve to keep US interest rates at record low levels to stimulate the economy," said Dow Jones Newswires.
A Dow Jones poll of economists forecasts the data to show a loss of 110 000 jobs in August from July, when payrolls also fell by 131 000.
Foreigners were net buyers of R588.8m of South African bonds including repo transactions on Thursday, after net purchases of R1.281bn of local bonds on Wednesday Bond Exchange of South Africa statistics show.
Nominal cumulative volume was R45.040bn on Thursday from R21.270bn on Wednesday.
Foreigners were net buyers of R599.065m of South African bonds excluding repo transactions on Thursday, after net purchases of R1.513bn of local bonds on Wednesday.
In the year to date foreigners have been net buyers of R71.106bn worth of local bonds, excluding repo transactions.
So far for total transactions, including repo transactions, foreigners have been net buyers of R63.648bn worth of bonds.
In 2009 foreigners were net buyers of R27.755bn worth of local bonds, excluding repo transactions, while for total transactions, including repo transactions, foreigners were net sellers of R2.424bn worth of bonds.