BOJ Holds Interest Rates Steady, Upgrades Growth and Inflation Outlook for Japan 
Stephen Miran Resigns as White House Economic Adviser Amid Federal Reserve Tenure 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Asian Markets Slip as AI Spending Fears Shake Tech, Wall Street Futures Rebound 
BOJ Rate Decision in Focus as Yen Weakness and Inflation Shape Market Outlook 
Gold Prices Fall Amid Rate Jitters; Copper Steady as China Stimulus Eyed 
Taiwan Urges Stronger Trade Ties With Fellow Democracies, Rejects Economic Dependence on China 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
RBA Raises Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Bank of Korea Expected to Hold Interest Rates as Weak Won Limits Policy Easing 
India Services Sector Rebounds in January as New Business Gains Momentum: HSBC PMI Shows Growth 
Consumer price inflation in South Africa breached the central bank’s target band during the month of September, accelerating above the upper end of the target band. However, it remained less than what markets had initially anticipated, reinforcing policymakers’ decision to keep the benchmark rate unchanged since March.
South Africa’s consumer price index (CPI) climbed to 6.1 percent from 5.9 percent a month earlier, data released by Statistics South Africa showed Wednesday in the capital, Pretoria. The median estimate of 21 economists surveyed by Bloomberg was for 6.2 percent. Also, prices rose 0.2 percent in the month.
Further, core inflation, which excludes food, non-alcoholic beverages, energy and gasoline, slowed to 5.6 percent, lower than the 5.7 percent median estimate of 13 economists. The central bank’s target band of inflation had raised borrowing costs by 2 percentage points to 7 percent since January 2014 to limit price growth to within its 3 percent to 6 percent target band.
"You would probably have to see the rand weaken toward 15 or above 15 rand versus the dollar for a reassessment to the upside in terms of the inflation outlook," Bloomberg reported, citing Carmen Nel, Economist, FirstRand Ltd’s investment banking unit.
However, the rand remained little changed at 13.8899 per dollar in Johannesburg after the release of the data on Wednesday, taking its appreciation this year to 11 percent. Yields on rand-denominated government bonds due December 2026 dropped five basis points to 8.77 percent.
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank anticipates inflation to return to within the target by the second quarter of 2017. It briefly dipped within the band in July and August.
