At 0700 GMT, the rand traded at 18.3750 against the dollar , about 0.3% stronger than its previous close.The rand is up more than 2% against the U.S. currency this week.
Rand Merchant Bank analysts linked the rand's continued advance to the "fallout from the Fed," which left interest rates unchanged on Wednesday. is due to be released around 0715 GMT, shedding light on business conditions in Africa's most industrialised economy in October. U.S. jobs figures are scheduled for publication later in the day and could set the tone for global markets.categoryNorth Korea confirmed on Friday it is shutting some embassies in an effort to "rearrange its diplomatic capacity efficiently", closures that South Korea says indicates the North is struggling under the burden of sanctions.