The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE) was weaker in noon trade on Thursday on the back of a strong rand and futures-related selling. Platinum stocks were particularly hard hit after a profit warning by AngloPlat before the opening.
At 12.09pm, the all-share index was down 0,56%. Resources retreated 1,14%, with the gold mining index surrendering 1,89% and the platinum mining index slumping 2,59%. The all-share industrial index eased 0,22%. The financial and banks indices were both flat.
The rand was trading at R6,20 per dollar, little changed from when the JSE closed on Tuesday, while gold was quoted at $402,35 an ounce from $402,50/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“The JSE is down because of the rand, the rand and the rand,” a dealer quipped.
While the local unit was little changed on the day, it rallied on Wednesday afternoon to trade below R6,10/dollar for the first time since January 2000.
He continued that adding to the negative picture was the profit warning by AngloPlat, which had also affected Impala.
The dealer added that basket-selling by futures players was also dragging the JSE down. On Friday and Monday, when futures were trading at a premium to spot, the JSE surged as players sold futures and bought the underlying shares.
However, futures were now trading at fair value, so players were squaring their positions ahead of the closeout on December 18 and the Christmas holidays.
AngloPlat lost 3,21% or nine rand to R271 in morning trade, while Impala was 2,59% or R14,69 weaker at R553.
AngloPlat said in an announcement to the market before the opening that headline earnings for the year ending December 2003 are expected to be substantially lower than those for the year ended December 2002. According to the JSE’s listings requirements, “substantially” means a change of more than 30%.
Impala issued a similar announcement after the close on Monday.
The dealer said the profit warnings were spreading negative sentiment to other resources stocks. This was why gold shares had not responded to the strength in the gold price.
AngloGold tumbled 2,73% or R8,30 to R296, Gold Fields gave up 1,9% or R1,60 to R82,50 and Harmony was 1,27% or R1,25 weaker at R97.
London-listed diversified resources group Anglo American was down R1,25 to R131,50 and synthetic fuels group Sasol slipped 1,21% or one rand to R81,80.
On the all-share industrial index, Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont was 10 cents in the red at R15,40.
Pulp and paper producer Sappi shed 1,86% or R1,50 to R79. It earlier touched R78,75 — its lowest level since October 2001.
Telecommunications stocks, which have had an incredible run of late, lost ground. Telkom was 1,36% or 89 cents softer at R64,70, while MTN Group was 1,26% or 36 cents in the red at R28,19.
On the JSE’s upside, technology holding company VenFin ticked up 1,16% or 23 cents to R20,10 and transport and logistics group Imperial was 49 cents stronger at R62,50. — I-Net Bridge