ZAR weakness despite USD pullback, considering implications
The $USDZAR action today, currently at 16.3754 and down about 0.80%, is interesting. On one hand, you have the general USD softness we've seen, which would naturally push it lower. However, the Rand has been under pressure for a while now, and any significant rebound often feels short-lived. I'm not seeing any fundamental shift that would justify a sustained move stronger for ZAR, despite the current dip in the pair.
Watching whether this is just a technical correction or if there's any underlying sentiment shift. Still leaning towards looking for opportunities to re-engage on the long side of $USDZAR on any deeper pullbacks, especially if global risk appetite continues to soften, or local South African data disappoints. The general trend hasn't really changed for me.
The ZAR has been pretty much a one-way street against the USD for a while now. While the USD pullback is notable, it's hard to see this as anything more than a temporary breather for the Rand given the underlying local issues.