ALAN FINLAY, Johannesburg | Monday 5.00pm.
The JSE ended in negative territory on Monday, driven down by jitters in the US market and gold shares which closed 2,99% or 34,69 points in the red.
The overall index closed 0,20% or 14,40 points down, with industrials 0,15% or 11,04 points lower. Only financials posted a gain closing 0,30% or 26,25 points strong.
At 4.15pm the Dow Jones was 0,39% or 40,21 points down. “The US market is heading south,” said Standard and Poor’s James Rheeder. “It sent the local market into negative territory after midday. There has been no new data released in the States and without that to buoy the Dow, its reacted negatively. It means everything’s not so secure over there,” he said.
At just after 4pm gold was trading at $302,60 to the ounce. “Gold shares have been overheated,” said Rheeder. “If Gold consolidates at about $295 it will be good and lend stability to the market.”
The Alsi-40 also lost some ground on the day, closing 0,28% or 18,01 points in the red. Anglo American, AngloGold and De Beers posted some of the most active shares by value on the day.
The rand held its own against the dollar and by late afternoon was trading R6,12 to the American currency. At the same time it was trading at R10,17 to the pound.
Asian markets firmed, with Hong Kong’s Hang-Seng ending the day 1,33% or 171,10 points stronger, and the Nikkei 1,20% or 209,99 points in the black.