The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) was weaker at midday on Friday due to profit-taking after Thursday’s closeout and the stronger rand. Trades stemming from the closeout boosted volumes, but otherwise the market was very quiet, dealers said.
By 11.59am, the all-share and all-share industrials shed 0,42% and 0,51% respectively. Resources retreated 0,72%, the gold-mining index gave up 1,58% and the platinum-mining index lost 0,75%. Financials firmed 0,13%, however, and the banks index bounced 0,68%.
The rand was quoted at R6,07 per dollar from R6,11 when the JSE closed on Thursday, while gold was quoted at $437,35 a troy ounce from $438,40/oz at the JSE’s last close.
A dealer said that the JSE’s weakness was in part the result of the stronger rand.
“We had quite a big surge with the futures closeout yesterday [Thursday] and were bound to see a bit of negativity after that. People are also looking to get out of positions ahead of the long weekend and the Easter weekend.”
Local markets are closed for Human Rights Day on Monday and for the Easter weekend next Friday and the following Monday.
“There are quite a lot of big cross trades going through, just fallout from yesterday’s closeout. Apart from that, the market is very quiet.”
In morning trade, London-listed Anglo American surrendered R1,50 to R150,30 and BHP Billiton eased 45 cents to R88,30.
Petrochemicals group Sasol, which earlier touched a lifetime high of R155, was 30 cents softer at R154,20.
Gold-miner Harmony was down 1,94% or R1,10 to R55,50, Gold Fields gave up 1,73% or R1,41 to R80 and AngloGold Ashanti shed 1,27% or R3,01 to R234.
Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont dropped 1,75% or 35 cents to R19,65.
While London-listed brewer SABMiller was 90 cents weaker at R98,60, it earlier traded at an all-time high of R99,90.
Food group Tongaat fell 1,96% or R1,20 to R60 and Illovo lost 1,78% or 15 cents to R8,30.
Retailer Pick ‘n Pay weakened 1,46% or 34 cents to R23 and Shoprite shed 1,08% or 15 cents to R13,75.
Services group Bidvest, however, climbed 30 cents to R71,20.
Mittal Steel was 30 cents stronger at R64.
London-listed financial services group Old Mutual was 1,38% or 22 cents lower at R15,78 and real-estate company Liberty International plc lost 1,27% or R1,45 to R113.
Sanlam, however, climbed 12 cents to R12,77.
Standard Bank was 1,23% or 75 cents in the black at R61,75 and FirstRand firmed eight cents to R13,23.
Investment trust Remgro rose 50 cents to R95,30. — I-Net Bridge