(Updates throughout)
JOHANNESBURG, January 8 (Reuters) – South Africa rand went against the dollar on Friday, regaining ground after a horrific week in which the country recorded a peak in daily COVID-19 outbreaks and doubts arose about the his vaccine stores to be.
At 1623 GMT, the rand was trading at 15.3275 against the U.S. currency, up 0.8% on the previous level.
The rand was helped somewhat to soften the dollar after a weak US jobs report, although news that South Africa would receive a batch of vaccines from the Serum Institute of India was also comforting. -investor.
However, the rand was still on track for a loss of more than 4% against a greenback this week.
The government has come in for heavy criticism in recent days from scientists, trade unions and health workers over their vaccination strategy. At a time when richer countries are already issuing vaccines, South Africa has not yet received its first doses and has only recently announced their protection plans.
A slow vaccination program would provide further opportunities for economic recovery in the most industrialized country on the continent.
Johannesburg listed stocks advanced for the fifth consecutive day on Friday, reaching highs, with the All-share index closing up 0.76% at 63,519 points and the blue-chip index top -40 0.72% higher at 58,423 points.
Petrochemical company Sasol was among the winners, rising 4.56% after rising oil prices.
Reducing further gains, gold shares fell 3.23% after the bullion price weakened. There has been little change in government bonds, with the yield on the 2030 bond at 8.795%.
Reciting with Alexander Winning and Tanisha Heiberg; Edited by Kirsten Donovan