# Rand loses traction as risk-off mood dominates

> The rand slipped as a risk-off mood dominated trading, driven by Afghanistan-related geopolitical risks, weak Chinese activity and draft Beijing regulations. The rand closed 0.6% weaker at R14.97 to the dollar, and Brent crude was also under pressure from weak demand.

- Date: 2021-08-18 · published 2021-08-18T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: macro · region South Africa · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/45852-rand-loses-traction-as-risk-off-mood-dominates
- Commodities: [South African Rand (ZAR per USD)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/USDZAR.md), [Crude Oil (Brent)](https://feedsoft.ai/c/BRENT.md)

## Why it matters

Risk-off flows and weak Chinese demand point to softer energy and commodity prices, while a weaker rand raises the local cost of imported feed.

## Read by commodity

- BRENT: bearish ▼
- USDZAR: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| BRENT | 2019-09-18 | [Rand steadies as investors wait on US fed rates, stocks down - Moneyweb](https://feedsoft.ai/events/57365-rand-steadies-as-investors-wait-on-us-fed-rates-stocks-down-moneyweb.md) | -2.2% | -9.4% |
| BRENT | 2020-02-24 | [Virus-driven risk-off move lifts yen versus dollar](https://feedsoft.ai/events/54816-virus-driven-risk-off-move-lifts-yen-versus-dollar.md) | -13.0% | -55.2% |
| BRENT | 2020-11-16 | [Tanker shipping at risk of rare winter hibernation - FreightWaves](https://feedsoft.ai/events/6813-tanker-shipping-at-risk-of-rare-winter-hibernation-freightwaves.md) | +5.3% | +18.6% |
| BRENT | 2022-01-24 | [Oil falls 2% as Fed rate hike talk spooks risk markets](https://feedsoft.ai/events/43049-oil-falls-2-as-fed-rate-hike-talk-spooks-risk-markets.md) | +2.2% | +6.8% |
| BRENT | 2020-03-11 | [Risk-Off \| Ohio BEEF Cattle Letter](https://feedsoft.ai/events/9942-risk-off-ohio-beef-cattle-letter.md) | -22.1% | -27.1% |

## Sources

- iol.co.za: https://iol.co.za/business-report/markets/currencies/2021-08-18-rand-loses-traction-as-risk-off-mood-dominates/

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