/ 25 September 2001

JSE EDGES HIGHER, ANGLO RECOVERS

THE South African bourse edged higher at Wednesday’s open with mining giant Anglo American recovering from Tuesday’s drubbing. Market heavyweight Anglo hopped up 1,89% or 180 cents to R96,80, boosting the benchmark all-share index 0,23% to 7,899.1. Financial stocks also crept back on optimism that the central bank will cut interest rates this week after the release of better-than-expected inflation data on Tuesday. Stanbic, one of the big four South African banks, climbed 1,06% or 30 cents to R28,70. Niche bank Investec rose 1,53% or 260 cents to R173. Dealers added however that the domestic market’s biggest negative factor was the weak rand. The close out of futures contracts on Thursday would also draw attention away from market weakness abroad, they said. – Reuters