South Africa's rand firmer as technicals, easing dollar offer support

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's rand firmed slightly early on Friday, extending its recovery from a near 7-month low against the dollar hit this week with the help of technical factors and an easing dollar. * At 0615 GMT, the rand traded at 13.5500 per dollar, 0.3percent firmer than its close on Thursday. * The rand has had a volatile week, falling to its weakestsince Nov. 27 on Tuesday as U.S.-China trade war fears hit riskappetite. Sentiment has also been weighed by a string of poorlocal economic data. [nL8N1TN1KR] * But the currency had been in oversold territory accordingto momentum indicators tracked by charters, and this offered thecurrency technical support. * "This morning the rand trades marginally firmer despitethe disappointing local data," Nedbank analysts wrote in a note."As has been alluded to recently the rand has potential for ashort term technical correction to the downside, over the mostrecent sessions, the current levels around the mid 13.50's haveheld steady." * In fixed income, the yield for the benchmark governmentbond due in 2026 was down 0.5 basis points to 8.915 percent. (Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo; Editing by Edmund Blair)