JOHANNESBURG, Nov 19 Reuters The South African rand slightly weakened in early trade on Tuesday as investors awaited a local inflation report and upcoming monetary policy decision.

At 0559 GMT, the rand traded at 17.9650 against the U.S. dollar , about 0.1 weaker than its previous close.

It is a quiet day on the data front, said Adam Phillips, treasury specialist at Umkhulu Treasury.

Technically, the ZAR could come back to 17.80, but I think the moves today should be more measured, with some consolidation taking place, Phillips said.

South Africafocussed investors will eye October39;s inflation print on Wednesday and the central bank39;s monetary policy decision on Thursday.

The bank is expected to reduce the repo rate by 25 basis point, according to a Reuters poll of economists, after implementing a cut of the same magnitude at its September meeting.

South Africa39;s benchmark 2030 government bond was flat in early deals, with the yield at 9.117.

Reporting by Tannur Anders; Editing by Sherry JacobPhillips

Source Reuters