Rand, bonds flat ahead of US Fed meeting

Johannesburg - The rand and government bonds were mostly flat in early Wednesday trade, with guidance seen mostly coming from global markets ahead of a US Federal Reserve policy statement.

The Top-40 futures index on the JSE securities exchange was also steady, pointing to a similar start for the local bourse at 09:00.

At 08:54 the rand was changing hands against the dollar at R13.6875/$ after ending Tuesday trade in New York at 13.6800.

Traders and analysts said the US Federal Reserve's policy statement, due out later in the session, would be an important guide as to the next direction of the market.

Investors expecting policy tightening to resume this year in the world's biggest economy have offloaded emerging market assets which offer higher yields but carry greater risk.

This has helped push the rand nearly 20% weaker against the dollar in 2015.

The outlook for US rates has, however, become cloudy recently, with some economic data coming out weaker than expected.

"The chances of a hawkish Fed tonight are being priced out of the market," Standard Bank trader Warrick Butler said in a note to clients.

Government bonds eased marginally from previous closing levels, with the yield on paper maturing in 2026 adding just half a basis point to 8.385%.