The rand touched its weakest level ever against the dollar yesterday, breaking through R14 to the dollar and delivering another body blow to an economy already on the ropes. The currency was at R14.0142 to the dollar in late trade, from Friday's close of R13.8642.Possible interest rate hikes in the US and Chinese market uncertainty weighed on the rand, as did the falling levels of local business confidence revealed in surveys last week. Bidvest Bank said in a note that the rand's weakness has "accelerated at a remarkable pace" over the past two to three weeks.The rand was at R21.4175 to the pound from Friday's close of R21.0486 and at R15.5488 to the euro, from R15.4782.The trade-weighted rand index continues to touch new record-weak levels almost daily, highlighting the momentum in the move, Bidvest Bank said.Although R14 to the dollar was recorded last month, it came from a single early-morning deal in Singapore that statisticians put down to a "fat finger trade" and reverted to the previous record low from several years ago. But that mark was duly smashed last week.The rand weakened 3.8% on a trade-weighted basis between Friday August 28 and Friday September 4, taking it 12% weaker over the year.Friday's pessimism came after US non-farm payroll data supported a possible US interest rate hike this year. Investec group economist Annabel Bishop said that after piercing the resistance level of R14 per dollar, R14.20 to the greenback was the next key level. Bonds followed the weaker rand as both asset classes remained vulnerable to the stronger dollar. ..