Rand Traders on Edge as Moody’s Puts Debt in Last-Chance Saloon

  • Moody’s decision not to cut South Africa may boost rand Monday
  • Bank of America expects the nation to be cut to junk next year

South Africans celebrate after winning the Rugby World Cup 2019 Final.

Photographer: Phill Magakoe/AFP via Getty Images

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South African traders waking from their Rugby World Cup party hangoverBloomberg Terminal may have another headache to confront: whether to see the Moody’s decision not to cut the country’s credit rating as a trigger to buy or sell the rand.

If you listen to Societe Generale SA, the currency that weakened more than any of its emerging-market peers last week may rally on relief that Africa’s most developed country has retained its last investment-grade rating.