The JSE reached yet another record high on Friday, peeping above the 16 800 level for the first time. Strength in heavyweight dual-listed stocks offshore and a higher gold price contributed to the JSE’s strength.
By 11.56am, the all share index was up 0,.6% at 16 768,6 having touched a
highest ever 16 800,73. Industrials climbed 0,91%. Resources rose 0,5%, the gold mining index gained 1,38% and the platinum mining index ticked 0,26% higher. Financials firmed 0,29% and the banks index was 0,89% in the black.
The rand was bid at 6,35 per dollar from 6,38 when the JSE closed on Thursday, while gold was quoted at $473,55 a troy ounce from $471,85/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“The gold price went through $470 yesterday [Thursday] and there is definitely good demand for gold shares,” a dealer said.
He added that diversified miner Anglo American had been pushed up in London late on Thursday on the news out of diamond giant De Beers and the strength had continued on Friday and followed through to Anglo locally.
De Beers said it is aiming to up its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda) to $2-billion by the group’s 2009 year.
The dealer said that US markets were up overnight and European markets were
stronger on Friday and the JSE was following the trend.
London-listed brewer SABMiller led the JSE’s upside, soaring 2,66% or R3,27 to R126, having earlier traded at a record high of R126,05.
SABMiller shares were up strongly in the UK after Deutsche Bank reiterated its ‘buy’ recommendation on the stock and raised its target price to 1,250 pence from 1,050.
Cellular network operator MTN Group leaped 2,77% or R1,40 to R52. It earlier traded at a best ever R52,50.
Retailers also put in a strong showing, with JD Group trading at an all-time high of R78,90. It was last quoted 2,14% or R1,64 in the black at R78,15.
Truworths surged 3,27% or 65 cents to R20,55 and Woolies strengthened 1,97% or 25 cents to R12,95.
On the resources index, Anglo was up 20 cents at R189,70 and BHP Billiton was 25 cents better at R102. The shares were well off their intraday highs however.
Petrochemicals group Sasol strengthened 1,16% or R2,80 to R243,50.
Gold miner Harmony jumped 2,14% or R1,49 to R71,20, AngloGold Ashanti added 1,81% or R5 to R281 and Gold Fields gained 88 cents to R94,60.
Financials to firm included FirstRand, which was up 1,14% or 19 cents to R16,82. Standard Bank was 1,29% or 89 cents stronger at R69,90.
Investment bank Investec improved 1,01% or R2,42 to R243.
Peregine rocketed 5,8% or 34 cents to a five year high of R6,20.
Before the opening, Peregrine said it expects its headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the six months ended September 30 to be between 75% and 95% higher than for the corresponding period last year.
As a result of a non-recurring capital receipt, Peregrine’s earnings per share are expected to be between 140% and 160% higher than the adjusted earnings per share for the corresponding period last year.
Peregrine also said that it had entered into negotiations with regard to a proposed broad-based black economic empowerment (BEE) transaction, which will result in the identified BEE partners acquiring 15% of the issued ordinary share capital of Peregrine.
On the JSE’s downside, investment company Remgro retreated 1,58% or R1,75 to R109.
Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont dipped five cents to R25.
Mittal Steel shed 1,22% or 70 cents to R56,50 and media group Naspers was 1,26% or R1,30 softer at R101,70.
Health and life insurer Discovery was 1,65% or 35 cents in the red at R20,80. – I-Net Bridge