The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE) was weaker in noon trade on Friday in a quiet market. Dealers said that with nothing to attract buyers, the bourse had drifted down.
At 1200, the all share index was 0,32% weaker. Financials fell 0,56% in morning trade, while the banks index lost 0,87%. Resources retreated 0,36%, the gold mining index gave up 0,37% and the platinum mining index plunged 1,01%. The all share industrial index dipped 0,1%.
The rand was trading at 6,9813 per dollar from 6,9950 when the JSE closed on Thursday, while gold was quoted at $384,95 an ounce from $383,95/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“It has been very dull. There is no real direction in the market at all at the moment and when that happens it normally just drifts down,” a dealer said.
London-listed diversified resources group Anglo American was off 84 cents at R134,01. Gold miner Gold was 50 cents softer at R102 and Harmony was down 45 cents at R104,05.
AngloPlat plunged 2,05% or R5,90 to R282 and Impala was down R2,90 at R603,50.
London-listed beverages group SABMiller slipped 20 cents to R57,50 and pulp and paper producer Sappi shed 1,66% or R1,50 rand to R89.
Services group Bidvest was 1,16% or 51 cents softer at R43,49. Bidvest on Friday announced further details of the deal whereby black economic empowerment consortium Dinatla will acquire 15% of Bidvest.
The deal, which was announced in July, will significantly raise Bidvest’s BEE ownership profile.
In terms of the deal Dinatla, a broad based BEE consortium, will acquire approximately 15% of Bidvest — equivalent to 45-million shares — pro rata from all shareholders, subject to the successful implementation of the scheme.
Shares to decline on the financial front included London-listed financial services group Old Mutual, which lost 1,101% or 12 cents to R11,71.
Standard bank slumped 1,29% or 44 cents to R33,56 and FirstRand fell six cents to R7,93.
On the JSE’s upside, retailer JD Group jumped 1.84% or 60 cents to R33,20.
Pharmaceutical group Aspen added 2,15% or 21 cents to 10 rand after trading is high as R10,30 early in the session.
News that the company had entered into an agreement with the US-based Clinton Foundation for the manufacture of anti-retroviral medicines sparked Aspen’s rally. – I-Net Bridge