South African rand slips, with mid-term budget the week's main focus
Updates prices to reflect afternoon trade
JOHANNESBURG, Oct 28 (Reuters) -South Africa's rand edged lower on Monday, as investors await Wednesday's mid-term budget review - the first under the coalition government formed in June.
At 1501 GMT, the rand traded at 17.7075 against the U.S. dollar ZAR=D3, down 0.2% from its previous close.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's budget policy statement to parliament will include an update on the health of public finances midway through the fiscal year.
A Reuters poll of economists published last week predicted that Godongwana will announce a lower 2024/25 budget deficit estimate than was given in February's main budget, but fiscal challenges are expected to slow consolidation efforts next year.
"Although this is not a policy-setting event, any indication of credible fiscal reforms would support market confidence and the rand," Andre Cilliers, currency strategist at TreasuryONE, said in a note.
Other domestic data releases this week include September credit extension and money supply data ZACRED=ECI, ZAM3=ECI on Tuesday, September producer inflation ZAPPIY=ECI and trade balance data ZATBAL=ECI on Thursday, and October vehicle sales figures ZAVEHY=ECI on Friday.
On the stock market, the Top-40 .JTOPI index closed 0.6% higher.
South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond ZAR2030= was marginally weaker, with the yield up 0.5 basis points to 9.29%.
Reporting by Tannur Anders with additional reporting by Bhargav Acharya;
Editing by Alexander Winning, Jan Harvey and Helen Popper
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