South Africa’s rand edged firmer in tentative early trade on Wednesday, as investors weighed a surge in coronavirus infections in key global centres and more signs of a creaking local economy. At 0700 GMT the rand was 0.23% firmer at 17.1400, retracing a fraction of the previous session’s sharp losses that dragged the unit to a 1-week low as investors attention turned to climbing COVID-19 infections around the world. A survey showed consumer confidence plunged to a 35-year low in the second quarter, while ratings firm Fitch warned about the country’s ability to execute plans to slash spending, also hurting the rand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices