The JSE was in the red in noon trade on Thursday knocked by Wednesday’s weakness on United States markets. Resources — particularly gold — shares were stronger, however, due to higher commodity prices.
By 11.58am, the all-share index slipped 0,3%. Industrials and financials fell 0,87% and 1,05%, however, and the banks index lost 1,41%. Resources rose 0,74%, the gold-mining index jumped 2,09% and the platinum-mining index picked up 0,92%.
The rand was bid at R6,33 per dollar from R6,37 when the JSE closed on Wednesday, while gold was quoted at $472,70 a troy ounce from $469,15/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“The weakness we are seeing can only be attributed to the performance of US markets last night,” a dealer said.
He added that resources were stronger however due to higher commodity prices.
“The gold and oil sectors are up in excess of 2%. The higher gold and oil prices are the main contributor,” he commented.
Dealers noted that the strength in resources stocks came despite a stronger rand. They said that gold stocks also made solid gains in New York overnight.
On US markets on Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite Index closed at their worst levels in almost three months as Hurricane Rita renewed concerns about the effect of high oil prices on the economy.
The Dow was down 103,49 points or 1% at 10 378,03, closing at its lowest level since July 7.
The Nasdaq fell 24,69 points or 1,2% to 2 106,64, while the S&P 500 Index dropped 11,14 points or 0,9% to 1 210,20.
On the JSE’s resources index, petrochemicals group Sasol strengthened 2,36% or R5,30 to R230,30.
Gold miner Harmony surged 5,87% or R3,88 to R70. Gold Fields gained 1,66% or R1,50 to R92 and AngloGold Ashanti added 65 cents to R278,50. Junior miner DRDGold soared 5,38% or 50 cents to R9,80.
AngloPlat advanced 1,24% or four rand to R327 and Impala inched two rand higher to R707,01.
London-listed diversified resources group Anglo American was up 30 cents at R185,55 after earlier trading at a best level since June 2002 of R186,99. Anglo traded at a record high of 1 634 pence in London on Wednesday.
BHP Billiton, however, dipped 24 cents to R99,25 despite being 1,5% stronger in the United Kingdom.
While Mittal Steel was 1,59% or 85 cents stronger at R54,15, iron-ore miner Kumba weakened 1,42% or R1,35 to R93,65.
Swiss-listed luxury-goods group Richemont slid 1,81% or 46 cents to R24,96.
Brand-management group Barloworld weakened 1% or R1,10 to R108,80 and services group Bidvest slumped 1,74% or R1,62 to R91,38. Bidvest shares earlier traded at a best-to-date R93,50.
Transport and logistics group Imperial dropped 1,52% or two rand to R129,80 after earlier trading at a record high of R135.
Cellular network operator MTN Group slid 1,91% or 95 cents to R48,75.
Retailer Pick ‘n Pay surrendered 1,21% or 34 cents to R27,66, Edcon lost 1,67% or 55 cents to R32,33 and Foschini fell 1,1% or 51 cents to R45,99.
Furniture group Steinhoff shed 2,27% or 45 cents to R19,39.
Financial-services group Sanlam slipped 1,91% or 25 cents to R12,85 and Liberty Group gave up 50 cents to R65,30.
Standard Bank was down 1,7% or R1,21 to R69,79, FirstRand fell 1,21% or 20 cents to R16,30, Nedbank gave up 1,74% or R1,59 to R89,61 and Absa was 1,52% or R1,40 in the red at R90,60. — I-Net Bridge