JOHANNESBURG, Aug 27 (Reuters) - The South African rand

slipped on Wednesday, as the dollar made a tentative rebound,

while concerns lingered over the independence of the U.S.

Federal Reserve.

By 0925 GMT the rand was trading at 17.7225 against the

dollar, or 0.5% weaker than Tuesday's close.

The dollar traded about 0.3% stronger against a basket

of currencies, dulling the appeal of the risk-sensitive rand,

which was also on the backfoot for most of Tuesday's session as

markets await clues from local economic data.

Releases due later in the week include producer inflation

numbers on Thursday, money supply and

private sector credit data, and trade balance

and budget balance figures on Friday.

"Even the technicals are not offering much direction to

trade on, and it appears that the same also applies to the USD,

which is also trading in a range," ETM Analytics said in a

research note.

The note added that investors would focus on U.S. President

Donald Trump's "doubling of tariffs on Indian imports and his

meddling at the Fed in firing Fed Governor Cook" for directional

momentum.

Trump's doubling of tariffs on Indian exports to as much as

50% took effect as scheduled on Wednesday, escalating tensions

between the world's two largest democracies and strategic

partners.

On the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the Top-40 index

was down 0.7% in early trade.

South Africa's benchmark 2035 government bond was

also weaker, as the yield rose 2.5 basis points to 9.61%.