At 0635 GMT, the Rand traded at 17.36 to the Dollar, 0.94% firmer than its previous close.

South Africa is letting more people outside for work, worship, exercise or shopping from Monday, and allowing mines and factories to run at full capacity to try to revive the economy.

The Rand also benefited from a general improvement in sentiment towards riskier currencies, as investors looked to positive signs from China’s post-coronavirus economic recovery and wagered on an easing in Chinese-United States (US) tensions.

US President, Donald Trump, on Friday ordered his administration to begin the process of eliminating special US treatment for Hong Kong to punish China, but left their trade deal intact.

Investors were encouraged by the Caixin/Markit Purchasing Managers Index showing marginal but unexpected improvement in Chinese factory activity last month.

In fixed income, the yield on the 10-year government bond was down 2 basis points to 8.875%.

--Reuters--