FRIDAY, 5.45PM:
THE Johannesburg Stock Exchange ended slightly firmer on Friday following a good performance by industrials.
By the close the JSE the financial index had slid seven points to 11 209, and the gold index was likewise seven points weaker at 881, as the gold price failed to hold recent gains. The industrial index closed 22 points better at 7 670, pulling the all share index up 42 points to 6 550.
Bullion was last quoted at $304,25-75/oz from a London morning fix of $301,80/oz on Friday .
Bonds ended a volatile day firmer, benefiting first from a rally in US bonds, and then taking a boost from December money supply data released by the Reserve Bank.
At 4pm the benchmark R150 government long bond was traded at a 13,43% yield — four basis points stronger than its previous close. The range on the R150 was 13,425% to 13,535% during the morning. The longer-dated R153 bond was three points firmer at 13,535%. The Eskom 168 bond was last traded 3,5 points stronger at 13,635%.
The rand ended the day slightly weaker following the drop in the gold price and the increasing strength of the US dollar, but good offshore dollar sales brought it back from its weakest level of the day. At 4pm the rand was quoted at R4,9370/00 to the dollar from R4,9240-70 at Thursday’s close. It traded between bids of R4,9270 and R4,9380 during the day.
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