At 08h22 CAT, the Rand traded at 18.22 against the Dollar, about 0.3% firmer than Wednesday's closing. The Presidency said that Ramaphosa's meeting with Trump on May 21 will provide a platform to reset the strategic relationship between the two countries, which have been at odds since Trump returned to the White House in January.

Investor attention will mainly be on March gold and mining production figures at 11h30 CAT, where economists polled by Reuters expect a fifth consecutive contraction.

"Like manufacturing (data), mining continues to grapple with unfavourable domestic supply conditions and an increasingly subdued global economy," said Nedbank Economists in a Research Note, adding that the sector will likely weigh down economic growth in the first quarter of 2025.

SA's benchmark 2030 government bond was little changed in early deals, with the yield up 0.5 basis points to 8.945%.

--Reuters--