The JSE continued its record-breaking run on Monday, trading at a new best level to date during the morning session, in a continuation of the trend seen last week and amid firm global markets.
The all-share index closed at a record high of 17 658,29 on Thursday, having jumped 1,14%. Local markets were closed on Friday for a public holiday.
By noon, the all-share index had added 1,17% and industrials had firmed 0,94%. The gold-mining index advanced 3,95%, the platinum-mining index added 1,27% and resources collected 1,19%. Financials added 1,44% and banks jumped 2,02%.
The rand was bid at R6,37 per dollar from R6,41 when the JSE closed on Thursday, while gold was quoted at $508,80 a troy ounce from $506,75/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“We are looking very good, but there are not heavy volumes going through and there has been no major company news. There’s just overall positive sentiment across the board and most of the world markets are also up,” said an equities trader.
On the resources index, London-listed diversified resources group Anglo American added 190 cents to R214,90 and BHP Billiton was 30 cents better at R100,95.
Petrochemicals group Sasol added 198 cents to R229,88, but pulp and paper producer Sappi was down three cents to R74,32.
Among gold counters, AngloGold Ashanti advanced R14,11, or 4,72%, to R313, while Gold Fields was up 495 cents to R111,75 and Harmony was 2,19% or 181 cents up at R84,50.
Iron-ore miner Kumba added 125 cents to R103,30, while Mittal Steel was up 25 cents to R59,85.
Among industrials, London-listed brewer SABMiller firmed 45 cents to R117,35 and Barloworld was up 280 cents, or 2,67%, to R107,80.
Swiss-listed luxury-goods group Richemont rose 39 cents to R27,62.
MTN Group was up 47 cents to R58,30 and Telkom climbed 141 cents to R134,40.
On the financial front, Sanlam was up 21 cents to R14,61 and Old Mutual was up 34 cents to R17,82. Old Mutual is widely expected to announce the results of its bid for Swedish insurer Skandia on Tuesday. The offer period ended at midnight last Friday.
Nedbank was up 115 cents to R96,10 and Standard Bank collected 186 cents to R75,86, but Absa shed 70 cents to R99.
There were two new listings on the JSE on Monday — SXR Uranium One and Miranda Mineral Holdings.
Uranium-mining company SXR Uranium One made its debut on the JSE, where it will have its secondary listing, and will start trading on its primary exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange, later in the day.
At noon, the stock was quoted at R35, with 490 shares having changed hands.
The listing of SXR Uranium One followed the acquisition of Aflease Gold and Uranium Resources (Aflease) by Canadian group Southern Cross Resources, which saw Aflease’s shares on the JSE suspended from the start of trade on Monday.
The new company has mining assets in South Africa, Canada and Australia.
SXR Uranium One is due to commence with its Dominion Reefs project near Klerksdorp, which is expected to start producing uranium in 2007.
Empowered mining royalty company Miranda Mineral Holdings (MMH) listed on the JSE in the “Other Mineral Extractors and Mines” sector.
The listing followed the acquisition of Miranda Minerals by Proper Group and the change of name of the Proper Group to MMH. Miranda’s shares have yet to trade.
MMH listed 153 731-million ordinary shares, with a par value of one cent per share, at the previous closing price of Proper Group of 20 cents per share.
In Tokyo on Monday, share prices closed the session firmer, with the benchmark Nikkei index getting a boost from bargain-hunting, after it had dropped 600 points over the previous three trading days, dealers said.
The blue-chip Nikkei 225-Stock Average ended up 218,41 points or 1,4% at 15 391,48, its session high.
United Kingdom, French and German markets were also in positive territory during the morning session. — I-Net Bridge