The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) was in positive territory in noon trade on Friday, fuelled by strength in world markets and a light weakening in the rand. However, dealers said that the market could turn negative later in the day on profit taking following Thursday’s futures closeout.
By 11.57am, the all-share index was up 0,79%. The all-share industrial and financial indices were 0,3% and 0,28% firmer respectively, while the banks index was 0,29% in the black. Resources rallied 1,53% and the gold-mining index jumped 0,78%, but the platinum-mining index lost 0,68%.
The rand was quoted at R6,57 per dollar, little changed from when the JSE closed on Thursday, but weaker than its best level of about R6,54 seen earlier in the morning. Gold was quoted at $404,40 an ounce from $404,30/oz at the JSE’s last close.
A dealer said that with the rand having weakened a bit, it was pushing resources up, while world markets were also stronger and this was filtering through to the JSE.
He noted that it was triple witching in London this morning, with futures and options expiring, which could have affected the market. Friday would also see quadruple witching in New York later in the day.
“Impala is down just over R10, but it is ex-dividend R16 today, so it is actually up six rand,” he said, adding that gold shares are pretty solid with the gold price steady and the rand losing a bit of ground.
“We might find some negativity coming into the market this afternoon. With the futures closeout yesterday[Thursday], the market was pushed up hard. But it should be a quiet day,” he concluded.
In morning trade, London-listed diversified miner Anglo American leaped 2,36% or R3,51 to R152,50 and BHP Billiton jumped 2,12% or R1,35 to R65.
Gold miner Harmony was 1,22% or one rand higher at R83, Gold Fields firmed 55 cents to R81,50 and AngloGold Ashanti added R1,41 to R243.
Petrochemicals group Sasol climbed R1,10 to R123.
AngloPlat was up 1,06% or three rand to R287, but Impala lost 1,99% or R10,83 to R534,50.
On the industrial market, cellular network operator MTN Group surged 2,98% or 88 cents to R30,40 and Telkom ticked up 30 cents to R74,10.
London-listed brewer SABMiller was 41 cents stronger at R84,20.
Furniture group Steinhoff soared 1,69% or 16 cents to R9,65. Its intraday high of R9,68 was its best since December 2001.
Transport and logistics group Imperial rallied 1,04% or 80 cents to R78 after earlier touching a best-to-date R79,50.
On the downside, Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont retreated 16 cents to R18,10 and pulp and paper producer Sappi was 1,09% or one rand softer at R91.
Financials to firm included banking group Absa, which was 40 cents in the black at R59. Nedcor climbed 31 cents to R57,45.
FirstRand rose four cents to R11,49 and RMB Holdings was 15 cents higher at R17,50.
FirstRand’s intraday high of R11,60 was its best since April 1998, while RMB traded at an intraday high of R17,75 — its best since May 1998.
Niche banking group Investec plc soared 1,95% or R2,50 to R131.
On the downside, short-term insurer Santam was 51 cents in the red at R53,50 after going ex-dividend of 95 cents per share.
Standard Bank dipped five cents to R47,45. — I-Net Bridge