/ 11 March 2002

JSE FIRMS, RAND WEAKENS

THE JSE overall index gained 0,83% to 10963 by noon Thursday following a stronger Wall Street close. Financial indices were mainly lower and Industrials and Resources up. Absa lost 2,5% to R26,90. FoodS group Tiger Brands gained 2,5% to R62,50. The JSE gold index gained a percent despite the price of bullion dropping to $292,00/oz as markets feared that Japanese investors may lighten their bullion holdings as the yen firmed. Brent oil was steady at $22,10 a barrel. The rand weakened to R11,16/$ from Wednesday evening’s R10,98/$. SCMB Securities said importer demand ahead of the Zimbabwean election was pressuring the currency, with losses pared by exporter USD sales. _ Sapa