Rand down more than 5 in August
Weaker Chinese data drives riskoff sentiment
Minibus taxi strike also weighs on sentiment

JOHANNESBURG, Aug 8 Reuters South Africa39;s rand slipped again on Tuesday as weak economic data from China contributed to the riskoff sentiment.

At 0915 GMT, the rand traded at 18.8000 against the dollar , down around 0.5 from its previous close. The currency has lost more than 5 against the greenback this month.

The dollar last traded around 0.3 stronger against a basket of global currencies.

Granted, the rand is one of the worst emergingmarket performers, but much of this can be attributed to the fact that it is among the most liquid emergingmarket currencies and thus when global sentiment turns, it is one of the first to feel the pressure, said Rand Merchant Bank analysts in a research note.

Chinese data showed on Tuesday that both imports and exports fell more than expected, pointing to softening global demand.

A global slowdown may encourage major developed markets39; central banks to ease off their tightening, but it also means the possibility of financial market volatility and a rise in risk aversion, ETM Analytics said.

With little local data and a public holiday on Wednesday, traders will turn their attention to Chinese and U.S. inflation data due later this week.

Local contributors to rand weakness include an ongoing minibus taxi strike in South Africa39;s Western Cape province, leaving some commuters unable to work, local…