Market News

BY  Sfundo Parakozov and Anathi Madubela

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 30 (Reuters) – The South African rand softened on Tuesday after a flurry of mixed economic data from the central bank, revenue service agency, National Treasury and statistics agency.

At 1439 GMT the rand traded at 17.29 against the dollar, about 0.2% weaker than Monday’s closing level.

Data from the South African Reserve Bank showed that M3 money supply growth last month was at 6.18%, down from 6.75% in July. Credit growth for August came in at 5.86%, just above July’s 5.84% and exceeding the 5.20% forecast in a Reuters poll.

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The SARB also released a quarterly bulletin showing that the country recorded foreign direct investment outflows of 73.5 billion rand ($4.25 billion) in the second quarter of 2025, compared to inflows of 11.7 billion rand in the first quarter.

The statistics agency reported a decline in formal sector employment, with budget balance data further souring the mood as the National Treasury posted a deficit of 38.35 billion rand.

Trade balance numbers came in at 3.97 billion rand, less than the 18.25 billion rand expected by analysts polled by Reuters.

On the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the Top-40 index was last up 0.7%.

In fixed income, government bonds weakened, as the yield for debt maturing in 2035 rose 2.5 basis points to 9.18%.

($1 = 17.2854 rand)