The JSE Securities Exchange South Africa (JSE) roared ahead on Tuesday, fuelled by a softer rand and basket buying by futures players. While it was one of the smallest gainers, even the gold sector managed to finish firmer despite a lower bullion price.
The all share index closed 1,43% stronger. Resources rallied 1,88%, the platinum mining index climbed 0,75% and the gold mining index inched 0,11% higher. Industrials and financials were 0,95% and 1,43% firmer respectively, while the banks index was 1,73% in the black.
The rand was quoted at R6,09 per dollar from R6,04 when the JSE closed on Monday, while gold was quoted at US$401,60 an ounce from $406/oz at the JSE’s last close.
On the all share index, 83 shares were up, 44 were unchanged and 34 were down. There were 32 decliners on the Top 40 index, two stocks were unchanged, while only seven declined.
A dealer said that although the market had enjoyed a positive start, it had gathered steam in afternoon trade after the rand weakened against the dollar, which rallied following the release of better-than-expected US trade data.
He added that the futures-related buying that was buoying the market in morning trade had continued into the afternoon.
“The market was pretty quiet earlier on, but volumes picked up after the rand weakened,” he commented.
The dealer said that London-listed diversified resources group Anglo American was a key feature on the market’s upside.
“The AngloPlat announcement seems to have been positive for Anglo,” he explained.
AngloPlat said on Tuesday that its interim headline earnings per share for the half-year to June would be up by between 30% and 35% from the comparable period last year. Anglo is AngloPlat’s major shareholder.
Anglo shares surged 2,79% or R3,51 to close at R129,30, while AngloPlat added 1,37% or R3,10 to R229,00.
BHP Billiton leaped 1,29% or 72 cents to R56,52 and oil and chemicals group Sasol soared 3,97% or R3,80 to R99,50.
Gold miner Harmony was 38 cents higher at R67,43, but AngloGold Ashanti eased 42 cents to R203,88.
On the industrial market, cellular network operator MTN Group rose 3,07% or 85 cents to R28,55.
Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont jumped 1,39% or 22 cents to R16,01 rand and pulp and paper producer Sappi strengthened 1,9% or R1,75 to R93,75.
Transport and logistics group Imperial rocketed 3,72% or R2,49 to R69,49, while retailer Woolies roared ahead 3,45% or 25 cents to R7,50 after it reported a 15,3% rise in sales for its 2004 financial year ended June 30.
On the financial index, investment company Remgro rallied 2,03% or R1,53 to R76,85 and real estate company Liberty International plc rallied 2,49% or R2,20 to R90,60.
London-listed financial services group Old Mutual firmed 1,84% or 21 cents to R11,60.
FirstRand forged ahead 2,59% or 26 cents to R10,31 and Standard Bank was 1,76% or 75 cents stronger at R43,45.
On the JSE’s downside, technology holding company VenFin fell 1,42% or 28 cents to R19,41.
London-listed IT group Dimension Data dropped 2,84% or nine cents to R3,08.
Steel producer Iscor weakened 20 cents to R39,77. According to AFX, a surge in exports in May helped narrow the US trade deficit from record levels in April, the Commerce Department reported at 14.30pm.
The trade gap narrowed by 4,5% in May to $46,0 billion. This is the first narrowing in the trade deficit since last November and the largest since October 2002.
The size of the narrowing of the trade deficit was unexpected. Wall Street economists had forecast that the deficit would fall slightly to $48,1 billion. — I-Net Bridge