OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Thursday 6.30PM.
LOCAL shares moved slowly off their lows today after a slightly better-than anticipated opening on the Dow Jones industrial average. Overall confidence, however, remained weak.
According to dealers, JSE investors are finding it a hard task to predict the market, as they react to the whims of international perceptions rather than domestic fundamentals.
The All share index closed 132,4 down, ending on 6200,3. The Industrial, Financial and All gold indices all lost points, ending on 7278,2, 10,730.8 and 874,1 respectively.
Bonds ended stronger on short-covering as the R150 recovered 50 basis points from its worst level in 7 years, yielding 16,65%.
The benchmark R150 closed on 16,740% after closing Wednesday on 16.820%. The longer term R153 closed on 16,520% after closing previously on 16.610%.
The Rand on Thursday rode the back of the stronger yen, throwing off its early weakness against the dollar on emerging market turmoil.
The rand closed on 6,2900 against the dollar, after closing on Wednesday at 6,3350. The rand closed on 10,232 against the Sterling after ending Wednesday on 10,3220.
Gold closed on USD/oz 284,50.