The rand was 0.29 percent stronger at 14.4125 per dollar at 0725 GMT, having closed in New York at 14.4550 on Thursday.

The currency is expected to trade between 14.2500 and 14.5500 to the dollar, NKC African Economics wrote in a note.

In fixed income, the yield on the benchmark government bond due in 2026 rose 4 basis points to 9.205 percent.

On the stock market, the Top-40 index was down 0.31 percent to 45,800 points in early trade.