• The South African rand fell by 1% against the U.S. dollar due to concerns about global growth and interest rate hikes by central banks around the world.

• The rand had been making strong gains since June due to easing power cuts but this trend appears to have ended, according to Rand Merchant Bank analysts.

• Despite the weaker rand, South Africa's 2030 government bond was stronger, indicating investor confidence in the country's long-term economic prospects.

Harare-The South African rand has been hit by a recent spate of interest rate hikes by central banks around the world, which has fuelled worries about global growth and its impact on emerging market currencies. The rand fell by about 1% against the U.S. dollar on Thursday, with the currency trading at 18.5000 against the dollar at 1528 GMT, about 1% weaker than its previous close. The safe-haven dollar last traded at 102.420, about 0.4% stronger against a basket of global currencies.

This recent decline in the rand comes after a sustained period of strong gains since the beginning of June, which was partly due to easing power cuts that improved investor sentiment. However, this trend appears to have come to an end, with Rand Merchant Bank analysts noting that "the multi-week trend looks like it is over."

Like most emerging market currencies, the risk-sensitive rand is susceptible to moves in global drivers such as U.S. economic data and the dollar in the absence of local catalysts. This has been evident in the rand's recent performance, which has been impacted by global market developments. The recent interest rate hikes by central banks around the world have created a risk-averse environment, which has led to a flight to safety and a stronger dollar.

On the stock market, the Top-40 and the broader all-share index both closed down by about 0.7%. This reflects the broader market sentiment, which is affected by global growth concerns. The stock market's decline is also a reflection of the uncertainty surrounding the rand and the potential impact of a weaker currency on the South African economy.

Despite the weaker rand, South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond was stronger, with the yield down 3 basis points to 10.690%. This suggests that investors are still showing confidence in South Africa's long-term economic prospects, despite the short-term volatility in the currency markets.

The South African Reserve Bank's monetary policy committee is set to meet next month to discuss interest rates. The committee is expected to keep rates unchanged, but there is a growing expectation that rates will be raised later in the year in response to rising inflation. The recent decline in the rand may also put pressure on the central bank to raise rates sooner than expected.

In conclusion, the recent spate of interest rate hikes by central banks around the world has had a negative impact on the South African rand, which has fallen against the U.S. dollar. While the rand had been making strong gains since the beginning of June, this trend appears to have come to an end. However, South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond remains strong, indicating that investors remain confident in the country's long-term economic prospects. The upcoming meeting of the South African Reserve Bank's monetary policy committee will be closely watched for any signals on the direction of interest rates, which could have a significant impact on the rand's performance in the coming months.

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