The JSE Securities Exchange was near an all-time high on Friday afternoon on the
weaker rand, resources stocks and buying interest in banks, brokers said.
At 12.05am, the all share index was up 1,33% and the industrial index added 0,74%.
Resources climbed 1,96%, while the gold mining index was up 1,04%. The financial index rose by 1,40%, while the banks index was up 1,86%. The platinum index was last down 2,56%.
The rand was quoted at 6,15 per US dollar compared with 6,09 when the JSE closed on Thursday, while gold was quoted at $428,38 a troy ounce from $431,45/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“The JSE is near fresh highs with the banks and retailers moving up on the local economy. Resources are also getting a boost from the strong gold price and weaker rand,” a Johannesburg broker said.
“The JSE has been targeting fresh highs for some time. World markets have also been higher with the Dow Jones showing strong gains, which bodes well for the local market,” he added.
“Standard Bank has hit fresh long-term highs and has been performing well. First Rand is also strong and Investec is up too,” the broker said.
“Kumba is also looking good, given the news that they are going to try and build their own railway line. Resources are rebounding after recovering from the news that China’s economy is also looking good, despite the increase in their interest rates,” the broker said.
Kumba was last quoted at R44,50, up R1,49 or 3,5% from its previous close. A key focus later in the day, will be United States October non-farm payrolls and the US October unemployment rate.
Global resources group Anglo American was last quoted up R3,75 or 2,8% at R139,60 and BHP Billiton added R1,25 or 2% to R64,50.
Paper and pulp maker Sappi was last quoted at R88,75, up 165 cents or 1,9%. In the industrial sector, world number two brewer SABMiller rose 21 cents or 0,2% to R91,20, while luxury goods group Richemont was quoted up 25 cents or 1,4% at R17,90 and Bidvest was quoted 90 cents or 1,2% higher at R73,90.
Logistics group Imperial added 260 cents or 2,7% to R98,70. Steel producer Ispat Iscor was last quoted at R56,30, up 40 cents or 1,1%.
Oil and chemicals group Sasol was last quoted at R122,50, up 25 cents or 0,2%.
In the gold sector, world number two gold miner AngloGold Ashanti was quoted at R233,25, up 2,1% or R4,77, Gold Fields was quoted at R85,30 up R0,80 or 0,95%, while Harmony rose 20 cents or 0,3% to R70,20.
In the platinum sector, world number one Anglo Platinum was quoted up R4,10 or 1,8% at R228,50, while world number two Impala Platinum was quoted at R510,05, up R16,05 at 3,25%.
In world markets, AFX reports that US blue chips posted a second straight triple-digit gain to end at a seven-week high Thursday and the Nasdaq surged to its best level in more than four months after oil prices fell 4% to end below $49 a barrel.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed just off its high for the session, soaring 177,71 points, or 1,8%, to 10 314,76. In the last two sessions, the benchmark index has risen 279 points. – I-Net Bridge