/ 30 September 1998

US markets drag JSE down

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Wednesday 7.30pm.

LOCAL shares were lifted off their lows by some last minute unit trust buying today, but overall market sentiment was dragged down by disappointment over the direction of US markets.

At the close, the JSE’s all-share index had lost 1.84%, the industrial index had fallen 1.65%, the financial index had dropped 1.88% and the all-gold index was down 1.68%.

The All share index closed on 5098,6, Industrials ended on 5796,3, Financials closed on 7535,0 and the All Gold index closed on 1097,8.

Bonds ended steady after the benchmark R150 bond tested the 17.50% support level in the morning. The R150 eventually closed at 17,350%.

The Rand ended the day just off its weakest levels against the US dollar but closed 4,50 cents softer than Tuesday’s close.

The Rand closed at 5,8650 against the dollar, while ending at 9,9740 to the Sterling. Gold closed the day’s trade at US$/oz 293,60.

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