By Robert Brand March 11 (Bloomberg) -- The rand fell to its lowest in more than a week, heading for its first weekly decline in four, on concern an earthquake in Japan make hurt growth of the world’s third-biggest economy. The South African currency depreciated as much as 0.6 percent to 6.9508 per dollar, the lowest intraday level since March 2, and traded 0.5 percent weaker at 6.9446 by 11.49 a.m. in Johannesburg. Investors sold emerging-market assets after an 8.9- magnitude earthquake hit the coast of Japan, followed by a tsunami of more than 10 meters that caused extensive damage. The dollar strengthened against 19 out of 25 emerging-market currencies monitored by Bloomberg as investors sought safe havens. “There was a bit of an uptick on risk aversion,” said Trevor Barsdorf, a Johannesburg-based analyst at Econometrix Treasury Management, which advises companies on bond and foreign-exchange transactions. The rand may fall as low as 7.05 per dollar in coming days, he added. South Africa’s currency has depreciated 1 percent this week after rising 5.9 percent in the previous three weeks. The 13.5 percent government bond due September 2015 was little changed at 120.936 rand. The yield was unchanged at 7.88 percent. --Editors: John Kohut, Ana Monteiro. To contact the reporter on this story: Robert Brand in Cape Town at rbrand9@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Gavin Serkin at gserkin@bloomberg.net.

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