Global positive sentiment looks set to help the JSE start the week on a firm footing, despite a slightly firmer rand.
By 8.45am, near-dated all share index futures (Alsis) were 73 points higher at 14 195 after 49 contracts had changed hands, while industrial index futures
(Indis) were untraded after finishing at 11 616.
The rand was bid at 6,51 per dollar from 6,55 when the JSE closed on Friday, while gold was quoted at $437,05 a troy ounce from $438,15/oz when the JSE last closed.
A trader said that the S&P future was up and stocks were strong in Tokyo, and it was expected that the positive sentiment would help the JSE, despite the stronger rand.
AFX reports that US stocks closed mixed on Friday to chalk up their fourth straight weekly loss, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average tugged off its early highs by an unfavourable jury decision for drug giant Merck.
The Dow ended the session at 10 559, up 4,30 points on the day. The index earlier rose to as high as 10 626, buoyed by favourable news at International
Business Machines, Caterpillar and an upgrade of Coca-Cola.
The Dow is down 0,4% from last Friday’s close. The S&P 500 ended up 0,69 point at 1 219,71, but was down 0,9% for the week. The Nasdaq Composite lost 0,52 points to 2 135,56, for a 1% loss for the week.
In Tokyo on Monday morning, the Nikkei 225 index finished up 160,78 points or 1,3% at 12 452,51, its highest close since July 2001. At one stage, the blue
chip marker surged to 12 478,82.
The broader-based TOPIX index of all First Section issues rose 19,32 points or 1,5% to 1 269,82, off a high of 1 270,87. – I-Net Bridge