Rand report: Rand unable to escape the global sell-off after a sobering National Budget Speech (Partner Content) The rand traded relatively flat ahead of the National Budget Speech and strengthened to USD/ZAR 14.396 during the speech. Government bonds saw similar movements, as the yields on 10-year bonds fell from 8.785% to 8.610% while Finance Minister Tito Mboweni was speaking. In both cases, however, markets experienced a correction shortly after. Any gains that the rand made in the beginning of the week were erased by a global sell-off on Thursday, fuelled by fears of rising interest rates. During weekly trade, the GBP/ZAR and USD/ZAR pairs appreciated by 2.45% and 3.06%, respectively.