Merger talks between India's biggest cellphone services firm, Bharti Airtel, and South Africa's flagship MTN Group could wind up this weekend, a report said on Saturday. A merged group would create the world's sixth-largest mobile company with a network of 130-million subscribers.
South African stocks were lower at midday on Tuesday, pressured by below-forecast gross domestic product (GDP) data, which showed that the quarterly economic growth rate slowed to 2,1%, traders said. At 12.02pm, the all-share index was down 0,71%. Resources fell 1,01%, while the gold- and platinum-mining indices were off 0,42% and 0,72% respectively.
South African stocks were slightly higher at noon on Monday with MTN in the spotlight on fresh merger talks with another Indian firm, but overall the session was muted due to public holidays in the United States and the United Kingdom. At 11.59am, the all-share index was up 0,30%, thanks to a 1,03% rise in resources.
The JSE hit a fresh record high on Thursday, buoyed by miners on firm commodity prices and a weaker rand, but overall the mood was dampened by global inflation worries due to the rising oil price. At noon, the JSE's all-share index was up 0,98% at 33 230,590 after earlier touching a fresh all-time high of 33 309,820.
South African stocks remained weak at midday on Tuesday with miners the worst causalities on easing metal prices, while falling overseas markets added to selling pressures. At 12.09pm, the JSE's broader all-share index was down 0,86%, weighed by a 2,88% drop in platinum miners.
After opening firmer on Friday morning, the JSE had given up its gains by midday and was trading 125 points in the red. A local trader said that after the all-share index posted an all-time high of 32 440,9 earlier, the market saw some profit-taking, particularly in the resources stocks.
Resources stocks were the main feature of the JSE by midday on Thursday, with the overall market generally flat following an overnight decline on Wall Street. At 11.56am, the JSE's broader all-share index was up 0,12%, helped by a 1,1% rise in resources, 0,89% advance in the gold mining index and a 0,39% rise in the platinum mining index.
South African stocks were mixed in early afternoon trade on Wednesday due to volatility, but the feature of the morning session was a strong gain by synthetic fuel producer Sasol. At 12.25pm, the JSE's broader all-share index was up 0,09%, with the industrial index up 0,88%, but resources were down 0,38%.
South African cellular giant MTN could pick up to a 74% stake in India's Reliance Communications in a share-swap deal being discussed between the companies, an official said on Friday. "The stock swap is an option being considered at the moment," a Reliance official said on condition of anonymity.
Reliance Communications, India's number two mobile operator, has entered into exclusive negotiations for a tie-up with the MTN Group, knocking its shares down 4%. Reliance was quick to fill a void left after its bigger domestic rival, Bharti Airtel, pulled out of talks at the weekend aimed at taking control of MTN.
A Bharti Airtel official on Thursday said there were no new developments in its talks with South African telecoms operator MTN Group that could create the world's sixth-largest mobile operator. Bharti said on May 5 it was in exploratory talks with MTN, and on May 13 said it had not made any bid for the South African firm.
Bharti Airtel, India's leading mobile operator, may seek a merger or share swap with MTN Group to try to avoid a bidding war for the South African phone firm, analysts and media reports say. A successful deal would be India's biggest foreign acquisition and create the world's sixth-largest mobile operator.
