The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE) was slightly firmer in noon trade on Friday, with a weaker rand and continued demand for heavyweights Anglo American and BHP Billiton giving the market a lift. However, volumes remained fairly light, dealers said.
At 11.52am, the all-share index was up 0,19%. Industrials and financials were 0,42% and 0,19% firmer respectively. Resources were flat (+0,01%) as was the banks index (+0,05%). The platinum mining index was 0,25% better, but the gold mining index surrendered 1,48%.
The rand was quoted at R6,73 per dollar from R6,68 when the JSE closed on Thursday, while gold was quoted at $408,20 an ounce, $1 weaker than at the JSE’s last close.
“The market has been extremely slow this morning. Volumes have mainly been in Billiton and Anglo … If you are not in Billiton or Anglo, you are not doing a hell of a lot of work today,” a dealer said.
He added that the rand had weakened a bit, which was giving the bourse a bit of a lift.
“Gold stocks are still a little lower, but have stabilised at the levels where they closed in New York after being oversold yesterday [Thursday]. Yesterday, AngloGold was hit on the bond deal and the gold price was also lower.”
London-listed diversified resources group BHP Billiton was 35 cents better at R64,30. It earlier traded as high as R64,30 — its best level since April 2002. The share touched a lifetime high of 508,50 pence in London on Friday morning, but surrendered its gains to trade in the red.
London-listed Anglo inched up 30 cents to R167. Its intraday high of R167,40 was its best since July 2002. Anglo touched a lifetime high of 1 333 pence in London on Thursday.
Impala Platinum was up 1,63% or nine rand at R561.
Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont rallied 2,21% or 38 cents to R17,58, while steel producer Iscor screamed ahead 4,06% or R1,30 to R33,30. It earlier traded at R33,50 — its best level since unbundling in November 2001.
On the financial front, London-listed Old Mutual was nine cents in the black at R11,99, while its subsidiary Nedcor leaped 2,05% or R1,34 to R66,80.
On the JSE’s downside, AngloGold shed R1,50 to R271,50. Gold Fields fell 1,55% or R1,30 to R82,69 and Harmony weakened 2,99% or R3,29 to R106,71.
AngloGold said on Thursday it had launched an offer for $900-million in convertible bonds maturing in 2009.
The bonds carry an over-allotment option of $100-million and will pay a coupon of 2,375%.
AngloPlat plunged 2% or R6,01 to R293,99.
London-listed IT group Didata dived 3,39% or 20 cents to R5,70. — I-Net Bridge