S.Africa's rand steady, stock futures edge lower (af.reuters.com)

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's rand steadied against the dollar on Thursday, with firm metals prices offsetting a weaker euro and lower risk appetite that could see local stocks open lower.

Asian shares fell after several major firms issued disappointing profit outlooks, casting doubt on the strength of the global economy and Greek debt woes continued to weigh on the euro.

The JSE's blue chip Top-40 June futures contract was down 0.4 percent at 0650 GMT, pointing to a slightly lower start for the market at 0700 GMT although higher platinum prices could help lift the resource-heavy bourse.

The rand was trading at 7.3995 against the dollar, little changed from its previous New York close of 7.40.

Traders said the softer euro -- the currency of a key South African trading partner -- and weaker equity markets suggested waning risk appetite that could hurt the rand.

"What you find also is a bit of weakness on the back of weaker equity markets, on the back of that we obviously will have a weaker open this side," BOE Private Clients trader Andrew Bryson said...

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