The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) was marginally weaker in noon trade on Thursday as a strong rand continued to keep the bourse in check. On the market’s upside, gold stocks continued to benefit from a higher bullion price.
By 12.04pm, the all-share and all-share industrial indices were down 0,21% and 0,19% respectively. The resources index was 0,25% in the red, while the platinum mining index was off 0,40%. The financial index dipped 0,11% in morning trade, but the gold mining index gained 0,32% and the banks index was 0,16% in the black.
The rand was quoted at R6,09 per dollar from R6,11 when the JSE closed on Wednesday, while gold was quoted at $403,70 an ounce from $402,25/oz at the JSE’s last close.
Before the JSE opened on Thursday, the rand touched R6,03 per dollar — its best level since October 1999.
“The rand is the story of the day. Most of the rand hedges are down, although the gold price is up and we are seeing demand for gold shares,” a dealer said.
“The market as a whole is battling with volumes. Most of the volume is coming through in Edcon. Away from that, there is not a lot going on.”
Shares in Edcon, a retailer, were 2,29% or R3,35 stronger at R149,35. Dealers said that the share was looking attractive, now that the bookbuilding exercise through which London-listed brewer SABMiller was disposing of its 21% stake in the company was out of the way.
SABMiller said Wednesday evening that it had successfully disposed of its entire interest in Edcon.
Approximately 11,2-million ordinary shares in Edcon were sold to a broad spread of local and international institutional investors through a two-day accelerated bookbuild offering priced at R144 per share.
SABMiller shares were 75 cents softer at R77,75.
Other decliners included London-listed diversified miner Anglo American, which dipped 35 cents to R123,65. BHP Billiton eased 20 cents to R54,50.
Oil and chemicals group Sasol slipped 50 cents to R96,10 and AngloPlat shed 1,31% or three rand to R226.
Gold Fields fell 27 cents to R63.
Pulp and paper producer Sappi was 49 cents softer at R94, while cellular network operator MTN Group dropped 1,73% or 50 cents to R28,40.
Media group Naspers was 1,56% or 69 cents weaker at R42,80.
Shares to fall on the financial index included London-listed Old Mutual, which lost 1,29% or 15 cents to R11,46.
Real estate company Liberty International plc retreated 35 cents to R87,15.
On the JSE’s upside, AngloGold Ashanti added two rand to R205 and Harmony was 30 cents higher at R66,80.
Impala Platinum inched up one rand to R448.
Despite the strong rand, Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont strengthened seven cents to R16,13.
Food group Tiger Brand bounced 1,25% or R1,10 to R89 and telecoms group Telkom ticked up 39 cents to R78,40.
Hospital group Netcare perked up four cents to R4,40 and retailer Woolies rang up 1,24% or nine cents to R7,35.
Banking group Absa added 30 cents to R50,30 and FirstRand firmed three cents to R10,13.
Financial services group Sanlam was five cents stronger at R8,55. — I-Net Bridge