The JSE ended weaker on Friday after a damp squib of a shortened trading session capped a bumper year that saw the all share index rocket 43%, reaching countless record highs in the process. Dealers said that lack of buying interest, weaker world markets and position squaring ahead of the long weekend all contributed to the bourse’s weakness on the day.
The all share and all share industrial indices ended 0,42% and 0,57% lower respectively. Financials fell 0,71% and the banks index was off 1,41%.
Resources dipped 0,09% and the platinum mining index eased 0,31%, but the gold
mining index gained 0,82%.
The rand was bid at 6,31 per dollar, little changed from when the JSE closed on Thursday, while gold was quoted at $513,30 a troy ounce from $516,90/oz at the JSE’s last close.
On the all share index, 59 shares were down, 42 were unchanged and 61 shares were up. There were 27 decliners on the Top 40 index and 10 advancers, while four counters closed flat.
A dealer said that lack of interest was the biggest trigger for the JSE’s weakness.
“We are just getting through the day,” he commented shortly before the close. “Volumes are shocking.”
He added that world markets and US futures were trending a little lower, which could have contributed to the JSE’s weakness, as could position squaring ahead of the weekend.
The market re-opens on Tuesday morning.
On the resources index, Anglo American lost R1,10 to R213,70, but BHP Billiton inched up 16 cents to R103,90.
Petrochemicals group Sasol slipped 49 cents to R226,50, while miner Kumba dropped 1,45% to R1,50 to R102.
Harmony Gold was 1,36% or R1,14 higher at R84,90, Gold Fields gained 65 cents to R84,90 and AngloGold Ashanti added R3,01 to R314.
AngloPlat was down three rand at R457 and Impala was a marginal one rand softer at R932.
On the all share industrial index, Telkom tumbled 2,36% or R3,25 to R134,75 and MTN Group slumped 2,57% or R1,64 to R62,15.
PPC plunged 5,62% or R18,25 to R306,75 after going ex-dividend of R16,40 per share.
Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont surrendered 1,01% or 28 cents to R27,45, but London-listed brewer SABMiller strengthened 55 cents to R117,75.
Retailer Truworths rallied to a record high of R24,85, before closing 2,87% or 67 cents in the black at R24.
Mr Price was up 1,14% or 21 cents at R18,70 after trading at a highest ever R18,80.
Media group Caxton soared 5,56% or 84 cents to R15,94.
Banking group Absa advanced 90 cents to R101.
Standard Bank, however, slipped 69 cents to R75,81, FirstRand fell 2,89% or 55 cents to R18,45 and RMB Holdings weakened 2,96% or 85 cents to R27,90.
London-listed Old Mutual was 13 cents softer at R17,95, while Sanlam was six cents in the red at R15,19. – I-Net Bridge