South Africa: Rand at Over 1-Week Low.

The South African rand weakened toward 16.1 per USD, the lowest in over a week, pulled down by a stronger US dollar and falling prices of key precious metals, particularly gold and platinum. Meanwhile, traders assessed the latest domestic economic data. South Africa’s unemployment rate fell to its lowest level in over five years at 31.4% in Q4 2025, down from 31.9% in the previous period. Despite the recent decline, unemployment remains extremely high, with over 8.4 million people seeking work, highlighting the country’s persistent job crisis. The attention now turns to the upcoming inflation report due on Wednesday. President Ramaphosa recently reiterated plans to accelerate reforms to boost growth, attract investment, and improve public-sector efficiency, measures that could aid job creation. Further details are expected in Finance Minister Godongwana’s annual budget on February 25.