South African rand gains after Ramaphosa announces new cabinet

South African rand gains after Ramaphosa announces new cabinet

At 0737 GMT, the rand traded at 18.0150 against the dollar, 1% stronger than its previous close.

After weeks of intense deliberations, Ramaphosa named DA leader John Steenhuisen as part of his cabinet line-up on Sunday, bringing the party and other coalition members into his new government team.

“There will be a palpable sense of relief that Mr Ramaphosa has finally named his executive following protracted and often terse negotiations with his new coalition partners,” Oxford Economics said in a research note.

Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority for the first time in three decades in a May 29 election and has formed a unity government with former rivals as a way to stay in power.

The new 32-member cabinet includes ministers from seven different parties.

Domestic investor focus will be on a monthly purchasing managers’ index (PMI) survey for the local manufacturing sector by Absa and vehicle sales figures, both due to be released later on Monday.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: South African Rand coins are seen in this illustration picture taken October 28, 2020.  REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/Illustration/File Photo

On the stock market, the Top-40 index was up 0.5% while the broader all-share traded 0.8% higher in early trade.

South Africa’s benchmark 2030 government bond was stronger, with the yield down 14.5 basis points to 9.840%.

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