However in the short run the volatility of the rand will be determined by bouts of risk aversion in global financial markets. The general expectation, as reflected in the consensus forecasts, is that the rand is unlikely to return to previous elevated levels of below R7 to the dollar, but is expected to appreciate somewhat from current levels.
The doctrine – even tradition – of statistical significance in scientific research has come under some cloud for its veracity and the journal American Statistician published a special edition on this issue earlier this year. Critics allege that these tests are susceptible to manipulation in order to make desired results significant, and undesired results non-significant.