JSE down on global negative sentiment
After starting slightly higher on Tuesday, the JSE took a sharp turn as negative sentiment started to flow in from overseas markets.
One trader explained that the JSE was weaker as there was continued concern about the supprime market globally.
By 12.04pm, the JSE’s all-share index fell 1,24%, as resources gave up 2,51%. The platinum and gold mining indices lost 1,46% and 1,34% respectively, while industrials were off 0,59%.
The rand was bid at 6,77 to the US dollar, from 6,79 when the JSE closed on Monday, while gold was quoted at $803,25 a troy ounce from $806,87/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“There is negative sentiment coming through,” said a local trader.
He said that CPI data was expected to come out of the US tomorrow [Wednesday], and because the Federal Reserve has kept propping up the market with interest rate cuts, it could now be under pressure because of the data.
In the United Kingdom, the FTSE 100 was 0,66% lower, and in Asia, the Nikkei lost 0,46%. However, the Hang Seng recovered 0,5%.
Overnight, the DJIA gave up 0,42%, while the Nasdaq was off 1,67% and the S&P 500 fell 1%.
The trader added that there wasn’t much happening locally.
Shortly after midday, Anglo Platinum fell R22,51, or 2,24%, to R981,50 and Impala Platinum lost R2,99, or 1,26%, to R235,01. Aquarius Platinum tumbled R33,89, or 13,09%, to R225.
Among resource stocks, Anglo American dipped R14,50, or 3,13%, to R449,50 and Melbourne-based BHP Billiton was off R6,76, or 2,97%, to R220,60. Petrochemical group Sasol slipped R6,97, or 2%, to R342.
Last week, Billiton announced it had made an offer to rival Rio Tinto, and even though it was rejected, said that it would continue to seek an opportunity to meet and discuss its proposal.
On Monday, Billiton briefed investors and analysts on the benefits of a proposed tie-up with Rio Tinto. Billiton continued to court Rio Tinto as it piled pressure on Rio Tinto to take another look at its proposed $153-billion all-scrip merger by pitching the benefits of the merger to analysts and shareholders.
In the gold mining sector, AngloGold Ashanti lost R2,41 to R310,50 and Goldfields was down R2,09, or 1,7%, to R120,81.
Elsewhere, brewer SABMiller lifted 14 cents to R188,45, and diversified industrial group Barloworld retreated R3,35, or 2,58%, to R126,50.
Telecommunications stock MTN Group dipped R2,38, or 1,83%, to R127,60, and Telkom pulled back R3, or 1,69%, to R174.
In the banking and financial sector, Investec added R1,09, or 1,43%, to R77,39 and Standard Bank edged up 21 cents to R113,80.
Asset manager Coronation Fund Managers was five cents lower than Monday’s close, trading at R9,65. It on Tuesday reported a 53% rise in headline earnings per share to 79,6 cents for the year until September from 51,9 cents a year ago.
Diluted HEPS rose 55% to 72,7 cents from a previous 46,8 cents. - I-Net Bridge
