The South African rand firmed on Friday against a weaker dollar, as markets weighed up bets on the size of a rate cut expected in the world's biggest economy next week. At 1539 GMT, the rand traded at 17.

The Federal Reserve is virtually certain to deliver an interest rate cut when it concludes its policy meeting on Wednesday, but the size of that cut remains far from certain. Fed-funds futures traders have priced in a knife-edge decision between a standard cut of 25 basis points or an outsize move of 50 basis points.

The South African rand was little changed in early trade on Friday, as markets weighed up bets on the size of a rate cut expected in the world's biggest economy next week.At 0804 GMT, the rand traded at 17.

Wall Street has grown anxious as speculation that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates grows. The Fed is anticipated to cut interest rates for the first time since 2020, though it’s not known by how much.

Inflation is still sticky: car insurance, daycare, rent. Inflation data, however, hasn't justified such a move as yet, and the labor market, which represents the second side of th

US stocks advanced on Friday as investors began to price in greater odds of a half-point interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve at its policy meeting next week, fuelling risk appetite across the world.