South Africa's rand firms against easing dollar

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's rand firmed slightly on Monday against a dollar weakened by non-farm U.S. payroll data released at the end of last week but it remained within recent ranges as investors waited for mid-week domestic data. The rand was trading at 10.5165 against the dollar at 1543 GMT, 0.32 percent firmer than its New York close. The currency had hit a three-month high of 10.5020 on Friday after U.S. jobs data came in slightly below market expectations. Dealers said the rand was likely to trade within its recent range until the release of U.S. Federal Reserve monetary policy minutes on Wednesday and local mining and manufacturing numbers on Thursday. Activity was just as slack on the bond market, with the 2015 government bond yield flat at 6.735 percent and the 2026 benchmark yield down 2.5 basis points to 8.380 percent. South Africa's Treasury will auction 2.35 billion rand ($223.48 million) in total of its 2030, 2036 and 2048 government bonds on Tuesday, with dealers expecting prices to remain flat to slightly weaker. ($1 = 10.5153 South African Rand)