The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) was higher by Wednesday afternoon on the weaker rand, but off its earlier highs.
Gold was last quoted at $421,75/oz from Tuesday’s JSE close of $420,40/oz.
By midday, the all-share index was up 0,43% and the industrial index added 0,47%. Resources garnered 043% and the platinum mining index was ahead 0,61%. Financials were 0,37% better, while the banking index lost 0,38%. The gold index was down 0,62%.
The rand was quoted at R6,15 per dollar from R6,17 when the JSE closed on Tuesday, while gold was quoted at $421,75 a troy ounce from $422,40/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“The JSE has drifted off its highs achieved earlier in the day as the rand has firmed. Commodity prices have got back their legs,” a Johannesburg broker said.
Global resources group Anglo American was last quoted 99 cents or 0,7% higher at R138,20, while BHP Billiton was 1,1% or 72 cents better at R64,05.
In the industrial sector, world number-two brewer SABMiller was 14 cents or 0,2% higher at R90,70, Bidvest was quoted 105 cents or 1,5% up at R71,55, and luxury group Richemont climbed 16 cents or 0,9% to R17,51.
In early trade, SABMiller touched a long-term high of R91,50.
“There has been a number of broker upgrades on SABMiller and that is making the group’s perky,” a broker said.
During the course of Wednesday, industrial stocks Barloworld and Remgro both touched long-term highs.
In the gold sector, AngloGold Ashanti lost four rand or 1,8% to R220, Gold Fields added 21 cents or 0,2% to R87,01 and Harmony lost 49 cents or 0,7% to R72,51.
Earlier on Wednesday, Gold Fields’ board urged its shareholders to reject what it referred to as the unsolicited and hostile offer for the company by rival Harmony.
Gold debenture NewGold, which allows exposure to the rand gold price of one-100th of a fine troy ounce of gold metal, was last quoted at R26,10, down 20 cents from the metal’s previous close.
NewGold made its debut on the JSE on Tuesday.
Telecommunications group Telkom was last quoted at R85,56, down R1,09 or 1,3% from its previous close.
“There has been a lot of off market trades in Telkom, which has made it the second-most-traded stock by value,” a Johannesburg broker said.
Oil and chemicals group Sasol was last quoted at R119,50, down two rand or 1,65% from its previous close, while AECI was quoted unchanged at R36.
In the financial sector, Nedcor was quoted at 49 cents or 0,7% higher at R67,10, Old Mutual was up 15 cents or 1,1% at R13,41, while Sanlam was quoted at R10,86, up four cents from the previous close.
Absa was down R1,10 or 1,6% at R66,20.
“There has been some switching out of Absa into Stanbic,” a broker said.
Stanbic was last quoted 23 cents higher at R54,45.
In the retail sector, Pick ‘n Pay rose 15 cents or 0,7% to R23,15, Woolies climbed 12 cents to R9,77, while Massmart was last up 86 cents or 1,9% at R46,61. — I-Net Bridge