The JSE Securities Exchange (JSE) reached yet another record high on Wednesday, led by resources heavyweights BHP Billiton and Anglo American, which were bolstered by United Kingdom-listed Rio Tinto’s solid results released before the opening. Gold stocks led the market’s downside on the back of a stronger rand.
At 11.57am, the all-share index was up 0,61% at 15 419,94 after reaching a lifetime high of 15 421,01 a few minutes earlier. Resources rallied 1,42% and the platinum-mining index jumped 2,17%, but the gold-mining index lost 1,07%.
The financial and banks indices firmed 0,3% and 0,46% respectively, while the all-share industrial index inched 0,07% higher.
The rand was bid at R6,45 per dollar from R6,52 when the JSE closed on Tuesday, while gold was quoted at $431,05 a troy ounce from $432,25/oz at the JSE’s last close.
A dealer said that the market was looking very strong, given the rand’s firmness.
“Rio Tinto reported stunning results this morning, which is helping Anglo and Billiton. Anglo’s [interim] results are out tomorrow and Billiton and Sasol are also being helped by the higher oil price,” he commented.
He added that the platinum price was looking “spunky”, which was helping platinum stocks. However, gold stocks were down on the lower rand-gold price.
The stronger currency was having the opposite effect on banks, for which demand was being seen.
BHP Billiton led the JSE’s upside, soaring to a highest-to-date R95,25. It was last quoted 2,58% or R2,39 in the black at R95,15.
Anglo American advanced 1,36% or R2,24 to R166,75.
Rival Rio Tinto on Wednesday announced a 35% increase in its interim earnings per share to 157,6 United States cents from 116,8 US cents in the 2004 interim period.
Petrochemicals group Sasol was R1,95 stronger at R204,50.
Platinum was quoted at $909,50/oz after earlier trading at a best level since April last year of $915,50/oz, and this helped AngloPlat to gain 2,41% or seven rand to R297 and Impala to perk up 1,98% or R12 to R617. Impala earlier traded at a best level since January 2004 of R620.
Mittal Steel leaped 1,9% or R1,02 to R54,75, but iron-ore miner Kumba eased 30 cents to R73. Kumba earlier reported a 258% increase in basic attributable earnings per share to 315 cents from 88 cents for the six months ended June 30.
The group declared an interim dividend of 90 cents, up 50% from 60 cents previously, and declared a special dividend of 220 cents per share.
Standard Bank was 1,20% or 89 cents better at R75,19 after earlier trading at an all-time high of R75,30.
RMB Holdings also traded at a lifetime best — of R26,50 — but it surrendered its gains to trade one cent in the black at R25,80.
Financial-services group Sanlam was up 2,1% or 26 cents at R12,62.
Microlender Abil advanced 2,22% or 45 cents to R20,75. It traded at a six-year high of R21 after it said that the sales environment has been buoyant over the past quarter, resulting in an increase of 34% relative to the equivalent quarter in 2004. This has translated into a year-to-date growth in sales of 21%, ahead of the 15% to 20% growth target range previously communicated. The group expects sales for the full year to be at the higher end of this range.
Investment company Remgro rose 60 cents to R118,15 after reaching a best-to-date R118,50.
Industrials to advance included food group Tiger Brands, which was up 1,32% or R1,60 at R122,80, having traded at a strongest-to-date R123.
Retailer Woolies rang up 1,17% or 14 cents to R12,14 and Edcon climbed 21 cents to R33,25.
On the JSE’s downside, Gold Fields fell 1,8% or R1,26 to R68,74 and Harmony was 1,44% or 74 cents lower at R50,79.
Services group Bidvest shed 1,39% or R1,19 to R84,30 and pulp and paper producer Sappi was 50 cents softer at R69.
Brand-management group Barloworld weakened 60 cents to R102,60 and London-listed brewer SABMiller eased 25 cents to R113,75.
Nedbank surrendered 1,04% or 90 cents to R85,80 and London-listed financial-services group Old Mutual was off five cents at R15,13. — I-Net Bridge