The USD/ZAR is an exotic pair not traded as often as the majors but also gaining in popularity among traders. Traders might use USD/ZAR forex pair to hedge their currency exposure for an asset purchase or funds received in USD. This act offers them to lock in the current exchange rate and helps to avoid fluctuations of the currency.
The USD dates back to 1792, when the United States Congress created the US dollar as the official country’s currency. It serves as legal tender in many countries, and it is the most widely used currency in the world both in circulation and reserve. The US dollar forms the majors as it pairs with all main currencies in the foreign exchange market (forex).
The South African rand is the official currency of South Africa but also a legal tender in Swaziland, Lesotho and Namibia. After apartheid period sanctions, the South African rand experienced high volatility when depreciating. Today the ZAR looks stronger when investors decide to take on more risk in the developing countries.
