The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE) was in positive territory in noon trade on Friday, led by heavyweight dual-listed stocks that performed well on strong offshore markets. With the exception of gold shares, the gains of which were pared, the bourse largely managed to shrug off a firmer rand, dealers said.
By 12.04pm, the all-share and all-share industrial indices were up 0,42% and 0,33% respectively. Resources rallied 0,98% and the gold mining index ticked up 0,21%, but the platinum mining index plunged 0,99%. The financial index fell 0,37% and the banks index was 0,4% in the red.
The rand was quoted at R6,76 per dollar from R6,85 when the JSE closed on Thursday, while gold was quoted at $396,70 an ounce from $392,85/oz at the JSE’s previous close.
A dealer said that overall, the JSE was taking its cue from world markets.
“A feature of the day has been Sappi, which has seen good volume here and saw good volume in the United States. Sappi was up 4% in the US where the whole paper market made good gains — the S&P paper index was up 4,7%. International Paper releases results today [Friday] and the gains may have come ahead of that,” she added.
Sappi shares surged 5,72% or R5,12 locally to R94,61.
“We have also seen good gains in Billiton, and to a lesser extent Anglo, following the London market. Metals and mining stocks were also strong in the US overnight. There seems to be switching into these stocks, which were hard hit over the last couple of days.”
BHP Billiton leaped 2,43% or R1,39 in morning trade to R58,50 and Anglo American added 1,26% or R1,85 to R148,90.
The dealer said that overall, the stronger rand’s affect on the JSE had been limited.
“The rand has muted gains in gold shares a bit. With the higher bullion price, I expected gold shares to be up more,” she explained.
Gold Fields firmed 40 cents to R74,50 and Harmony was 40 cents higher at R81,90.
AngloGold, however, eased one rand to R228.
AngloPlat lost 1,17% or R3,01 to R255 and Impala was three rand softer at R497.
Synthetic fuels group Sasol shed 89 cents to R101,01.
On the industrial market, Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont climbed 1,05% or 19 cents to R18,21.
Food group Tiger Brands roared ahead 1,16% or one rand to R87 and hospital group Netcare jumped 1,59% or eight cents to R5,10.
Steel producer Iscor strengthened 1,13% or 40 cents to R35,90 and London-listed IT group Dimension Data gained 1,11% or five cents to R4,55.
Telecoms stocks were under pressure, with Telkom tumbling 2,03% or R1,60 to R77,40 and cellular network operator MTN Group slumping 2,26% or 71 cents to R30,70.
On the financial front, health and life insurer Discovery surged 4,87% or 65 cents to R14 — a lifetime high.
Niche banking group Investec plc picked up 1,8% or R2,29 to R129,40.
Holding company Remgro, however, retreated 1,81% or R1,39 to R75,60.
Standard Bank slid 32 cents to R42 and financial services group Sanlam slipped five cents to R9,15. — I-Net Bridge