The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE) was trading in the black in noon trade on Tuesday, driven by positive corporate news and good performances by heavyweight dual-listed stocks offshore. Gains were seen across the board, with advancers outnumbering decliners on the all-share index by more than two to one.
At 11.55am, the all-share and all-share industrial indices were up 0,98% and 1,25% respectively. Financials firmed 0,7% and the banks index was 0,50% better. Resources climbed 0,88%, with the gold mining index gaining 1,26% and the platinum mining improving 1,16%.
The rand was trading at R6,93 to the dollar from R6,92 when the JSE closed on Monday, while gold was quoted at $386,10 an ounce from $387,90/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“Volumes are still pretty thin, but I think this is becoming the norm,” a dealer said.
About R600-million-worth of shares had changed hands.
He continued that a couple of news items on the day had helped the market.
“The British American Tobacco results and the merger news came out, which pushed up Richemont,” he explained.
A positive trading statement by Telkom had also been well-received.
Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont rallied 3,9% or 60 cents to 16 rand and Remgro was 3,66% or R2,20 higher at R62,25.
The Wall Street Journal reports that seeking to counter the increasingly grim landscape of the United States tobacco industry, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Holdings and British American Tobacco plc’s Brown & Williamson agreed to combine their operations into a new company.
If the deal clears regulatory hurdles, which is far from certain, Reynolds will control the new company, to be called Reynolds American Inc, with a 58% ownership stake and a majority of the 13 board seats.
For its part, British American Tobacco will be the largest shareholder in a company valued at about $6,2-billion, and at the same time distance itself from the legal and regulatory perils of running a cigarette business in the US.
Telecommunications group Telkom rocketed 4% or two rand to R52, while cellular network operator MTN Group soared 2,29% or 49 cents to R21,85.
Telkom said in a trading statement before the opening that it expects its earnings for the six months to September to be at least 30% higher than for the corresponding period last year.
Significant gainers on the resources index included synthetic fuels group Sasol, which was 1,72% or R1,50 stronger at R88,50.
Impala Platinum jumped 1,63% or R9,90 to R618,90.
“We saw demand for gold shares in New York and it has followed through here. It was quite strange that gold ADRs were up in dollar terms because the gold price was weaker,” the dealer commented.
AngloGold advanced 2,4% or R6,48 to R276, Gold Fields was up 95 cents at R103 and Harmony was R1 higher at R106.
London-listed diversified resources group Anglo American added 65 cents to R135,40 and BHP Billiton was 45 cents better at R52,40.
On the financial front, Absa was 1,07% or 41 cents in the black at R38,6. Investec Plc was 1,68% or R1,75 stronger at R106.
Pulp and paper producer Sappi, which was 1,02% or 90 cents softer at R87,60, led the JSE’s downside. — I-Net Bridge