Reserve Bank expected to keep repo rate unchanged next week

South Africa's Reserve Bank will leave interest rates unchanged at its Jan. 18 meeting, a Reuters poll showed on Thursday, despite a much firmer rand suggesting further easing could come from the bank. The rand, currently around 12.43 per dollar, has gained almost 8% in the last six months - with most made after South Africa's Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was voted leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in December.