The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) was mixed at midday on Thursday after a lacklustre morning’s trade. While resources were down on the back of a stronger rand, stocks with a local economy focus remained in fashion.
By 12.03pm, the all-share index inched up 0,12%. Industrials climbed 0,29%, while the financial and banks indices were bolstered 0,54% and 0,96% respectively. The platinum-mining index picked up 0,4%. Resources retreated 0,43% and the gold-mining index gave up 0,47%.
The rand was quoted at R5,64 per dollar from R5,70 when the JSE closed on Wednesday, while gold was quoted at $441,13 an ounce from $442,25/oz at the JSE’s last close.
The rand earlier touched R5,6150 per dollar — its best level since November 10 1998.
“There is absolutely nothing happening,” a dealer said. “The market is very slow and there are no real features.
“Retailers are looking good and banks are also better. Telecoms stocks are picking up as was the case yesterday. Although the rand is off its best levels, it is still stronger than it was yesterday [Wednesday] so we are seeing a bit of weakness coming through to resources stocks.”
On the JSE’s upside, cellular network operator MTN Group gained 1,91% or 80 cents to R42,60 and telecoms group Telkom ticked up 1,29% or R1,25 to R98,25.
Brand management group Barloworld bounced 1,25% or R1,27 to R103,01. Services group Bidvest was 45 cents better at R79 after earlier touching a best-to-date R79,10.
Retailer Pick ‘n Pay rallied 2% or 45 cents to R23.
Truworths surged 2,68% or 45 cents to R17,26 and Edcon climbed R1,06 to R304. Truworths and Edcon traded at lifetime highs of R17,35 and R305,75 respectively on Thursday morning.
Financial services group Sanlam was nine cents stronger at R12,79.
Banking group FirstRand firmed 13 cents to R13,70 after earlier touching a lifetime high of R13,75.
After trading at a lifetime high of R64,52, Standard Bank was quoted at R64,40 — still up 1,42% or 90 cents on the day.
Nedcor climbed 31 cents to R76,51 and Absa added 40 cents to R74,60.
Niche banking group Investec plc picked up one rand to R176 — its strongest since January 2002.
Impala Platinum improved R2,01 to R470,01.
On the JSE’s downside, London-listed resources group Anglo American lost R1,20 to R131,80.
AngloGold Ashanti shed 89 cents to R209, Gold Fields fell 35 cents to R71,15 and Harmony surrendered 26 cents to R52,65 after earlier trading at a three-year low of R52.
Petrochemicals group Saosl slipped 95 cents to R117,55.
Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont weakened 17 cents to R18,60 and pulp and paper producer Sappi was 55 cents softer at R82,30.
London-listed financial services group Old Mutual dipped four cents to R14,48. — I-Net Bridge