# The rand is weaker than it seems – Daily Investor

> The rand traded near R17.20 per dollar despite elevated geopolitical tensions, with the dollar's broad weakness the main driver. The dollar has fallen 9.7% since the start of 2025 while the rand has gained 8.3% against it. Investec's chief economist said investors are shifting away from US Treasuries as a safe haven.

- Date: 2025-09-30 · published 2025-09-30T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: macro · region South Africa · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/23180-the-rand-is-weaker-than-it-seems-daily-investor
- Commodities: [South African Rand (ZAR per USD)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/USDZAR.md), [US Dollar (Broad)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/DXY.md)

## Why it matters

Most of the rand's gain reflects dollar weakness rather than local strength, so the currency could reverse if the dollar rebounds. A stronger dollar would raise the rand cost of dollar-priced feed imports.

## Read by commodity

- DXY: bearish ▼
- USDZAR: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| DXY | 2023-11-23 | [Gold up on weaker dollar as investors wait on Fed rate path](https://feedsoft.ai/events/33078-gold-up-on-weaker-dollar-as-investors-wait-on-fed-rate-path.md) | -0.4% | -1.1% |
| DXY | 2017-07-16 | [FX Week Ahead: Is It 'End Of Days' For The Greenback? \| Investing.com UK](https://feedsoft.ai/events/70282-fx-week-ahead-is-it-end-of-days-for-the-greenback-investing-com-uk.md) | -0.6% | -0.8% |
| DXY | 2018-01-24 | [Why the dollar is weak](https://feedsoft.ai/events/67171-why-the-dollar-is-weak.md) | -0.8% | -0.1% |
| DXY | 2020-07-29 | [US dollar breaking down, gold and the $A breaking up – what does it mean for investors? - Invest Blue](https://feedsoft.ai/events/52393-us-dollar-breaking-down-gold-and-the-a-breaking-up-what-does-it-mean-for.md) | +0.4% | -0.4% |
| DXY | 2025-12-01 | [Rupiah menguat seiring investor "wait and see" rilis data inflasi AS - ANTARA News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/21820-rupiah-menguat-seiring-investor-wait-and-see-rilis-data-inflasi-as-antara-news.md) | -0.3% | -1.2% |

## Sources

- dailyinvestor.com: https://dailyinvestor.com/finance/103520/the-rand-is-weaker-than-it-seems/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.