TOKYO -- As falling prices of oil and other commodities hit a lull, currencies of resource-rich countries have been steadily stiffening after having plunged in January on sliding resource prices.
Mineral-rich South Africa's rand strengthened as far as the lower 15.1 level to the dollar Tuesday, its stiffest in two months. The Australian dollar appreciated to the 1.38 level against the greenback, its strongest since Jan. 4. And oil-rich Canada's dollar is hovering around 1.37 to the U.S. dollar, stiffer than at the end of 2015. The Brazilian real and the Mexican peso have also gained strength.
