/ 19 April 2000

Markets continue recovery

OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Wednesday 11.30am.

THE Johannesburg Stock Exchange continued its recovery on Wednesday, trading 1,88% or 130 points up by mid-morning.

Local markets gained over 4% on Tuesday, recovering ground after heavy losses on Monday. However a dealer said investors are cautious and that there are still concerns about US technology stocks.

The Nasdaq climbed 7,19% overnight, boosting the local IT sector. Dimension Data rose 4,33% to R45,75 on opening, Datatec added 4,38% to its value, and Ixchange was up 4,8%.

By mid-morning financials were trading 2,66% or 239 points higher, while industrials were up 1,76% or 139 points.

Only gold shares were battling to hold their ground. At the same time the sector was 1,52% or 14 points in the red.

Asian markets were also trading stronger, the Nikkei 0,62% or 117 points up and Hong Kong’s Hang-Seng 0,97% or 148 points in the black.