Global economic weakness, an ongoing world bear market in equities and the rand’s strength saw a continuation of the downward trend began in 2002 in equity trading volumes on the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE).
Releasing its results for the six months to June on Thursday, the JSE said that compared to the same six months in 2002, equity market value traded declined by 12,5%, the volume of contracts traded in financial derivatives was unchanged, and the agricultural derivatives market continued its strong performance with an increase of 43.8% in the volume of contracts traded.
The JSE reported a 7% decline in revenue for the period under review to 167-million rand from R180,3-million in the corresponding period last year.
Operating expenses climbed 17% to R183,3-million from R156,3-million. The JSE attributed the increases in operating expenses mainly to the new JSE Sets system implemented in May 2002 to replace the obsolete Jet system.
This resulted in an operating deficit of R16,3-million for the period, which was compensated for by the strong interest returns achieved on JSE funds invested for the period, which contributed R20,8-million to the net surplus against R25,3-million for the same period in 2002.
The net result for the period under review amounted to a surplus of R5,8-million against a surplus of R32,6-million for the same period last year.
The JSE said that despite the adverse trading conditions, it remained soundly capitalised with substantial cash reserves, which had been established to ensure sustainability of its operations in cyclical downturns.
Revenues for the next six months were expected to be significantly down on the first six months, while expenditure was forecast to be materially higher, largely due to initiatives designed to cut costs and improve efficiencies over the longer term.
The JSE expects interest income to fall substantially, with the net result for the next six months being substantially down on the first half of the year.
It said depressed market conditions had seen the focus during the first six months of the financial year being placed on consolidating the infrastructural changes put in place during 2002.
Some projects have been postponed, pending the long-awaited upturn in world
markets. All major areas of the JSE’s business are being critically reviewed in
order to identify both opportunities to rationalise expenses and possibilities
for additional revenue sources. – I-Net Bridge