JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Yields on South African government bonds fell to their lowest in nine months on Thursday with bond prices buoyed by foreign interest and signs of a weakening economy, while the rand gave up 1 percent to the dollar on the supported greenback. Vehicle sales data and the Purchasing Managers' Index this week showed signs of a slow-down in Africa's largest economy, while strikes have fuelled expectations of more job losses and a weak GDP number for the second quarter. The yield on the 2015 note gained 1.5 basis points to 7.13 percent and the 2026 paper added 1.5 basis points to 8.225 percent. The two benchmark bonds again tested nine-month lows in the early morning session as foreigners piled in due to a growing belief that rates will stay on hold this year as the economy falters. Analysts, who only six months were betting on a 50 basis point rate hike this year, now think there is a 90 percent it will not come until March 2012. Foreigners own about 27 percent of rand-denominated bonds and that number is seen rising steadily for the rest of this year. "Foreign inflows and falling yields show investors see South Africa as a safe haven play from developed-world stress," RMB said in a note Dealers say 7.08 percent is the next level to watch on the 2015 note, after it broke two key levels at 7.22 and 7.18 this week. The rand was looking to test support at 6.80 again, trading at the morning high of 6.7920 to the dollar. It was down 0.7 percent at 6.7631 by 0650 GMT, off a close of 6.7165 on Wednesday. The Japanese and Swiss interventions in their respective currencies to try and reverse safe haven flows is supportive of the dollar as the countries buy dollars and sell the yen and Swiss franc. The stock market opened firmer, with the Top-40 index of blue chips up 0.5 percent after a five week-low hit on Wednesday.

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