S.Africa's rand slips as Fed overshadows local rate decision

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's rand weakened on Thursday in a broad retreat by emerging market currencies as expectations of an interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve hardened on the back of strong economic data from the U.S. * At 0640 GMT the rand had slipped 0.42 percent to 14.1850 per dollar compared to an overnight close of 14.1400 in New York. * Solid manufacturing and labour data from the United States, Fed minutes pointing to December hike, pushed the dollar index back nea