The South African rand dropped on Monday after President Cyril Ramaphosa cancelled a trip to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos to deal with the country's energy crisis, as struggling state utility Eskom's worst ever power cuts continued.
The South African rand <ZAR=D3> traded at 17.065 against the U.S. dollar at 0930 GMT, 1.29% weaker than its previous close and its weakest level since Dec. 1.
That reversed a rise to as high as 16.75 in early trading, as the dollar extended last week's fall after data showed U.S consumer prices fell for the first time in more than 2-1/2 years in December. That led investors to bet the Federal Reserve may be nearing the end of its interest rate-hike cycle.
"What we're seeing right now is potentially a realisation of the ramifications of where we are with Eskom and also a bit of unwinding in the USD-ZAR shorts that were on," Quinten Bertenshaw, executive director of ETM Analytics.
Recent strengthening in the rand had been a "dollar play", he said, adding, "we haven't broken any key technical levels as yet. I think the first big level that I would worry about that would signal a reversal for me, would be closer to the 17.20 mark."
Eskom said on Tuesday it would implement "Stage 6" power cuts until further notice, due to the breakdown of several power generating units. This requires up to 6,000 megawatts to be shed from the national grid and at least six hours a day without power for most South Africans.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said last week a plan for the government to take on some of Eskom's debt would be announced during the annual budget on Feb. 22.
In October, the ministry said it could take on between a third and two-thirds of Eskom's 400 billion rand ($23.5 billion) debt in order to make the beleaguered utility financially viable.
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No major economic data releases are expected in South Africa on Monday and U.S. markets are closed, which could make for thin trading.
Later this week South African mining output (ZAMNG=ECI) and retail sales (ZARET=ECI) for November are due, as well as December consumer inflation (ZACPIY=ECI).
The South African government's benchmark 2030 bond was weaker, with the yield up 12.5 basis points to 9.89%.
($1 = 17.0420 rand)
