/ 1 March 2004

JSE ticks up on resources sector

The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE) ticked up during the morning session on Monday, with the key driver of the market being the resources sector.

At 11.55am, the all-share and all-share industrial indices were up 0,92% and 1,06% respectively. Resources rallied 1,01%, the gold mining index climbed 0,03% and the platinum mining index jumped 2,57%. The financial index added 0,54% while the banks index climbed 0,53%.

The rand was quoted at R6,62 per United States dollar from R6,63 when the JSE closed on Friday, while gold was quoted at $398,40 an ounce from $396,45/oz at the JSE’s last close.

“The JSE is up on the resources sector, which is being led by gains in Anglo American [Anglo] and BHP Billiton. The platinum sector is also strong,” a Johannesburg broker said.

Anglo was last quoted at R168,50, up 1,3% or R2,14 from Friday’s close of R166,36, and also at its highest level since July 2002.

BHP Billiton last traded at R62,40, up 51 cents or 0,8% from the Friday close.

Platinum stocks sparkled on the JSE as the US dollar platinum price forged to fresh 24-year highs.

Platinum was quoted at $893,50/oz from New York close on Friday of $885/oz. Early on Monday, platinum touched a fresh 24-year high of $897,50/oz due to buying by speculators on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange.

Impala Platinum leaped 3,26% or R18 to R570 and Anglo American Platinum added 1,86% or R5,50 to R300,50.

Telecommunications group Telkom ticked up 35 cents to R67,60.

London-listed IT group Dimension Data bounced 6% or 30 cents to R5,30, while financial services group Old Mutual plc firmed 17 cents to R11,93.

Sanlam strengthened 1,86% or 17 cents to R9,32.

On the downside, banking group Absa was 0,6% or 29 cents in the red at R46,40. — I-Net Bridge