JOHANNESBURG: South Africa's rand weakened against the dollar on Thursday and stocks fell as domestic growth concerns rattled sentiment towards the continent's most industrialised economy.
At 1522 GMT, the rand traded at 15.0860 per dollar, 0.33 percent weaker from Wednesday's New York close.
Official data showed that manufacturing production shrunk 2 percent in March and mining output plunged by 18 percent - the most on record.
On Tuesday the rand had tumbled to its weakest level since March 29 after data showed unemployment rose to its highest in more than a decade.
Government bonds were weaker, with the benchmark paper due in 2026 adding 1 basis point to 9.155 percent.
"The local numbers we have been getting from our economy has been painting us in a terrible picture, its impacting on the market with banks and consumer type stocks," said Afrifocus Securities portfolio manager Ferdi Heyneke.
On the stock market, the benchmark Top-40 index fell 1.42 percent to 45,190 points while the broader all-share weakened 1.29 percent to 51,458 points.
Clothing retailer The Foschini Group shed 3.24 percent to 140.75 rand, lender Nedbank weakening 2.11 to 170 rand while discount retailer Mr Price dipped 2.3 percent to 175 rand.
Traders said the market's focus has now shifted to April consumer inflation data and an interest rates decision due out next week. "Let's see what the future brings," Rand Merchant Bank rand trader Jim Bryson said.
Trade volumes were significantly low, with about 190 million shares changing hands compared to last year's daily average of 280 million shares.
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