UK inflation dropped to 2.6% in June from 2.8% in May, propelled by reduced petrol prices.

UK policymakers associate the decline to prospective cost-of-living relief for measures tied to inflation.

The South African rand held unchanged ahead of its own inflation data release.

In Australia, Reserve Bank observers point out inflation data is critical for shaping interest rate expectations.

Traders in South Africa expect the release of major economic figures after this week's fluctuations in the rand.