South Africa's rand backtracks, stocks slip

South Africa's rand weakened on Thursday, weighed down by poor economic data, after surrendering brief gains made on the back of the European Central Bank's (ECB) decision to expand its stimulus programme. Stocks also ended slightly lower, with insurer Sanlam topping the decliners' list after it posted a below-average increase in annual profit. An announcement by the ECB that it would expand its bond-buying programme and slash lending rates lifted the rand to its highest level in 2-1/2 months bu