The JSE Securities Exchange ended the week in the black, regaining ground in the afternoon session. Better volumes were traded than on Thursday and the bourse was helped on by the higher gold price on the day. The rand was stronger against the greenback, but traders said this had not hurt rand-hedge stocks too much.
At 1705, the all share index was up 0,83%. The indi-25 was 1,69% stronger, while gold gained 2,09%. The platinum mining index inched up 0,34% and the IT index 0,35%. The financial index picked up 0,90% and resources gained 0,39%.
The rand was trading at 8,4775 to the dollar from around 8,5050 at the JSE’s previous close, while gold was quoted at $345,90 an ounce from $344,15 when New York closed on Tuesday.
While traders still described volumes as weak, they were double that of Thursday, and most said that next week the better volumes expected would also show a more reliable sign of what the market was doing.
One trader said that there was good demand and while Anglo was rather disappointing most other stocks fared well.
“Gold shares have responded to the better gold price today and the gold stocks have helped to boost the bourse,” he said.
Gold Fields (GFI), one of the days five most traded by value, gained 2,01% or 2,33 rand at R118 and Harmony (HAR) was up 3,14% or R4,50 to R148. AngloGold (ANG) was 2,23% or R6,40 stronger at R294.
London-listed diversified resources group Anglo American (AGL) was one rand weaker to R126 as was synthetic fuels group Sasol (SOL) to R104. In contrast, BHP Billiton (BIL) was 60 cents better at R46.
On the indi-25, Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont (RCH) was 4,73%
or 75 cents stronger at R16,60.
The firmer rand appeared to be helping the banking stocks. Commercial bank
Absa (ASA) put in a good show and was 1,93% or 62 cents stronger at R32,70,
while Nedcor (NED) gained 1,81% or R2,05 to R115. Standard Bank (SBK) was 1,81% or 55 cents up at R30 and FirstRand (FSR) had firmed 7 cents to R7,40.
Sage (SGG) strengthened 4,65% or 10 cents following an announcement this morning that confirmed that it has suspended its international marketing and underwriting activities in the United States with effect from January 1. – I-Net Bridge