Close Menu
TechCentralTechCentral

    Subscribe to the newsletter

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube LinkedIn
    WhatsApp Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn YouTube
    TechCentralTechCentral
    • News
      Top SA computer scientist on IBM's chip breakthrough

      Top SA computer scientist on IBM’s chip breakthrough

      26 June 2026
      Telcos agree plan to tighten Sim registration under Rica

      Telcos agree plan to tighten Sim registration under Rica

      26 June 2026
      Gigabit fibre arrives in Joburg township for R5/day - Alan Knott-Craig

      Gigabit fibre arrives in Joburg township for R5/day

      26 June 2026
      Standard Bank deal cuts the dollar out of China trade

      Standard Bank deal cuts the dollar out of China trade

      26 June 2026
      Starlink lines up a frontal assault on mobile operators

      Starlink lines up a frontal assault on mobile operators

      26 June 2026
    • World

      SK Hynix ends Samsung’s 26-year reign at the top

      22 June 2026
      Google on the hook for what its AI tells users, court rules

      Google on the hook for what its AI tells users, court rules

      15 June 2026
      How Russians juggle VPNs to outwit the Kremlin

      How Russians juggle VPNs to outwit the Kremlin

      15 June 2026
      Amazon CEO flagged Anthropic AI risks to Washington - Andy Jassy

      Amazon CEO flagged Anthropic AI risks to Washington

      14 June 2026
      Trouble at Xbox

      Trouble at Xbox

      11 June 2026
    • In-depth
      AI boom sparks rally, frenzy and fear

      AI boom sparks rally, frenzy and fear

      11 June 2026
      Every plug-in hybrid on sale in South Africa, ranked by price - Lamborghini Temerario

      Every plug-in hybrid on sale in South Africa, ranked by price

      7 June 2026
      What Wi-Fi 8 will mean for wireless networks

      What Wi-Fi 8 will mean for wireless networks

      1 June 2026
      Alfa's electric rebel - Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica Veloce

      Alfa’s electric rebel

      29 April 2026
      Africa switches on as Europe dims the lights

      Africa switches on as Europe dims the lights

      9 April 2026
    • TCS
      Watts & Wheels S1E6: 'A flawless Alfa and a bakkie that divides'

      Watts & Wheels S1E6: ‘A flawless Alfa and a bakkie that divides’

      17 June 2026
      Watts & Wheels S1E6: 'A flawless Alfa and a bakkie that divides'

      Watts & Wheels S1E5: ‘A Bentley of the bush and a car that swims’

      8 June 2026
      TCS | Charge's R1.8-billion bet on an off-grid EV future - Charge chairman Joubert Roux

      TCS | Charge’s R1.8-billion bet on an off-grid EV future

      18 May 2026
      TCS+ | The Up&Up Group on the hidden cost of AI - Jason Harrison

      TCS+ | The Up&Up Group on the hidden cost of AI

      13 May 2026
      Michael Rossouw

      TCS+ | The retirement decision most South Africans get wrong

      6 May 2026
    • Opinion
      The pivot South Africa's MVNOs cannot afford to miss

      The pivot South Africa’s MVNOs cannot afford to miss

      23 June 2026
      Brazil's online gambling crackdown is a lesson for South Africa

      Brazil’s online gambling crackdown is a lesson for South Africa

      22 June 2026
      Finish the job Mandela started - Farzam Ehsani

      Finish the job Mandela started

      18 June 2026
      The author, Fanie van Rooyen

      The US just showed it can switch off our AI

      17 June 2026
      The pivot South Africa's MVNOs cannot afford to miss

      The clock is ticking on South African banks’ biggest advantage

      9 June 2026
    • Company Hubs
      • 1Stream
      • Africa Data Centres
      • AfriGIS
      • Altron Digital Business
      • Altron Document Solutions
      • Altron Group
      • Arctic Wolf
      • Ascent Technology
      • AvertITD
      • BBD
      • Braintree
      • CallMiner
      • CambriLearn
      • CM Telecom
      • Contactable
      • CYBER1 Solutions
      • Digicloud Africa
      • Digimune
      • Domains.co.za
      • ESET
      • Euphoria Telecom
      • HOSTAFRICA
      • Incredible Business
      • iONLINE
      • IQbusiness
      • Iris Network Systems
      • Kaspersky
      • LSD Open
      • Mitel
      • NEC XON
      • Netstar
      • Network Platforms
      • Next DLP
      • Ovations
      • Paracon
      • Paratus
      • Q-KON
      • SevenC
      • SkyWire
      • Solid8 Technologies
      • Telit Cinterion
      • Telviva
      • Tenable
      • Vertiv
      • Videri Digital
      • Vodacom Business
      • Wipro
      • Workday
      • XLink
    • Sections
      • AI and machine learning
      • Banking
      • Broadcasting and Media
      • Cloud services
      • Contact centres and CX
      • Cryptocurrencies
      • Education and skills
      • Electronics and hardware
      • Energy and sustainability
      • Enterprise software
      • Financial services
      • HealthTech
      • Information security
      • Internet and connectivity
      • Internet of Things
      • Investment
      • IT services
      • Lifestyle
      • Motoring
      • Policy and regulation
      • Public sector
      • Retail and e-commerce
      • Satellite communications
      • Science
      • SMEs and start-ups
      • Social media
      • Talent and leadership
      • Telecoms
    • Events
    • Advertise
    TechCentralTechCentral
    Home » News » Why the rand is defying gravity

    Why the rand is defying gravity

    By Agency Staff16 February 2017
    Twitter LinkedIn Facebook WhatsApp Email Telegram Copy Link
    News Alerts
    WhatsApp

    Investors are developing thick skins to political risk in South Africa. The rand is among the world’s top 10 best performers this year despite speculation that President Jacob Zuma may fire finance minister Pravin Gordhan.

    Just 14 months ago, Zuma sent the currency crashing when he removed the respected Nhlanhla Nene from the post. The rand barely moved when Zuma’s annual address in parliament last week sparked a fist fight and riot police fired stun grenades outside.

    Now Ebury Partners, the top rand-dollar forecaster over the past four quarters, thinks it’s unlikely Zuma will put markets through another “Nenegate”.

    Investors are more concerned about faster-than-expected rate increases in the US and President Donald Trump’s trade policies, although those risks have improved the outlook for precious metals as traders seek safe havens.

    That’s coupled with general positive sentiment across commodities as companies benefit from rising pricing across the industry, from iron ore to coal, which is good news for South Africa.

    If there’s another political blowout in South Africa, there would probably be a selloff in the rand, but that could be a signal for investors to buy the currency, said Kevin Daly, a London-based money manager at Aberdeen Asset Management, which oversees about US$11bn of emerging-market assets.

    Swissquote Bank agrees. “It would be a short term risk-off trade in the rand, but in the longer term that would purely be an opportunity in my book to reload on ZAR-long,” said Peter Rosenstreich, the head of market strategy at Swissquote in Gland, Switzerland. “The market is well aware of the political situation in South Africa.”

    Zuma’s feuds with Gordhan have caused periodic spikes in credit default swap contracts, which some investors use as a gauge for risk. Gordhan was under investigation over the early retirement of a former colleague at the national tax agency, but the charges were dropped in October.

    While political tensions persist, and Gordhan is still being investigated for allegedly overseeing a spy unit at the tax agency, the nation’s credit default swaps this week declined to the lowest level since December 2014.

    The rand this week was on its longest winning streak since September, breaking through key barriers. It appreciated as much as 1,6% to R12,90/$ on Wednesday, the strongest level since August 2015.

    Swissquote’s Rosenstreich says idiosyncratic risks are taking a back seat to the broader appetite for carry trades, when investors borrow where rates are low and invest in higher-yielding assets.

    “The rand is one of those currencies that has very little political Donald-Trump-tweet-exposure, so it makes it one of those ideal currencies,” he said.

    While the rand is the world’s most erratic currency, according to its one-month implied volatility, the measure has dropped to levels seen before Zuma dismissed Nene on 9 December 2015.

    Local issues do pose risks, said George Herman, the head of South African portfolios and asset allocation at Citadel Investment Services, which oversees about $3,2bn. But the main drivers for the currency are external, “even in a year of South African political issues”, he said.

    • Reported with assistance from Robert Brand
    Follow TechCentral on Google News Add TechCentral as your preferred source on Google


    Jacob Zuma Nhlanhla Nene Pravin Gordhan
    WhatsApp YouTube
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous Article5 ways nanoscience is making sci-fi sci-fact
    Next Article Why Apple flopped in the living room

    Related Posts

    Brazil's online gambling crackdown is a lesson for South Africa

    Hold the doom: the case for a South African comeback

    26 February 2026
    Television at 50 | How the SABC lost its way - and what it must become

    Television at 50 | How the SABC lost its way – and what it must become

    5 January 2026
    ICT BEE fight deepens as MK, EFF target Malatsi - Colleen Makhubele

    ICT BEE fight deepens as MK, EFF target Malatsi

    15 December 2025
    Company News
    Kaspersky's blueprint for industrial cyber resilience

    Kaspersky’s blueprint for industrial cyber resilience

    25 June 2026
    The spaza is not informal - it is foundational - Lesaka Technologies Lincoln Mali

    The spaza is not informal – it is foundational

    24 June 2026
    A smarter way to buy or renew your Red Hat subscriptions - LSD Open

    A smarter way to buy or renew your Red Hat subscriptions

    22 June 2026
    Opinion
    The pivot South Africa's MVNOs cannot afford to miss

    The pivot South Africa’s MVNOs cannot afford to miss

    23 June 2026
    Brazil's online gambling crackdown is a lesson for South Africa

    Brazil’s online gambling crackdown is a lesson for South Africa

    22 June 2026
    Finish the job Mandela started - Farzam Ehsani

    Finish the job Mandela started

    18 June 2026

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the best South African technology news and analysis delivered to your e-mail inbox every morning.

    Latest Posts
    Top SA computer scientist on IBM's chip breakthrough

    Top SA computer scientist on IBM’s chip breakthrough

    26 June 2026
    Telcos agree plan to tighten Sim registration under Rica

    Telcos agree plan to tighten Sim registration under Rica

    26 June 2026
    Gigabit fibre arrives in Joburg township for R5/day - Alan Knott-Craig

    Gigabit fibre arrives in Joburg township for R5/day

    26 June 2026
    Standard Bank deal cuts the dollar out of China trade

    Standard Bank deal cuts the dollar out of China trade

    26 June 2026
    © 2009 - 2026 NewsCentral Media
    Built and maintained by Chronon
    • Cookie policy (ZA)
    • TechCentral – privacy and Popia

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Manage consent

    TechCentral uses cookies to enhance its offerings. Consenting to these technologies allows us to serve you better. Not consenting or withdrawing consent may adversely affect certain features and functions of the website.

    Functional Always active
    The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
    Preferences
    The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
    Statistics
    The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
    Marketing
    The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
    • Manage options
    • Manage services
    • Manage {vendor_count} vendors
    • Read more about these purposes
    View preferences
    • {title}
    • {title}
    • {title}