South Africa's rand falls to 13-year low after US jobs data

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa's rand fell to 13-year low and government bonds also slid sharply on Friday, as emerging markets were heavily sold off after US job numbers strengthened the case for the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates.

The rand tumbled nearly 2 percent to a session trough of 12.0650, its weakest level since early 2002, according to Thomson Reuters data. In fixed income, the yield on the benchmark 2026 bond jumped 20.5 basis points to 7.95 percent, a level last seen on Jan. 5.

The dollar rose to an 11-year high against the world's major currencies and US bond yields jumped after US jobs figures reinforced expectations the Federal Reserve will push ahead with its first rate hike in almost a decade.

Prospects of policy tightening in the world's biggest economy have dented investor appetite for emerging market assets which, while offering higher yields, are perceived as carrying higher risk.