The JSE moved into the red on Thursday on profit taking on lower metal prices after the first two days of the year saw the bourse move to fresh all-time highs, brokers said.
By 12.05pm, the all share index lost 0,27%, the industrial index climbed 0,12%, the financials index fell 0,48% and the banks index declined 0,73%. The resource 20 index declined 0,5%, the platinum and precious metals index was down 1,13%, while the gold mining index lost 0,9%.
The rand was bid at 6,12 per dollar from 6,13 when the JSE closed on Wednesday, while gold was quoted at $532,40 a troy ounce from $530,70/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“The JSE is down on the lower gold and platinum prices as well as profit-taking. However, volumes are thin,” a Johannesburg equity broker said.
Platinum was last quoted at $989/oz, down $5,50/oz from the metal’s previous close.
Among gold stocks, AngloGold Ashanti was quoted down R1,25 or 0,4% at R320, Gold Fields lost R2,55 or 2,1% to R116,70 and Harmony Gold added 40 cents or 0,5% to R87,50.
“There has been a lot of interest for DRDGOLD over the past two or three days. I’m not sure, there could be a lot of speculation or anticipation of corporate activity,” the broker said.
DRDGOLD was last quoted at R10,20 rand, up 2% or 20 cents.
Junior gold miner Simmer and Jack Mines touched an all-time high of 149 cents and was last quoted at 146 cents, up three cents from the stock’s previous close.
The African General Retail index on Thursday climbed to an all-time high of 25 800,90 points. The index was last at 25 705,41 points, down 16,481 points or 0,06% from the previous close.
Pick ‘n Pay was last unchanged at R28,20, Edcon lost 34 cents or 0,9% to R36,50, Woolies added 10 cents or 0,7% to R14,90 and furniture retailer Steinhoff was last at R18,85, up 1,5% or 28 cents.
Global resources group Anglo American touched a fresh all-time high of R225 and was last at R219,40, down 0,4% or 85 cents from the stock’s previous close.
BHP Billiton was last down 60 cents or 0,6% at R104,20.
Media group Naspers rose to an all-time high of R124,95. The group’s shares were last at R121,95, up R2,46 or 2,1%.
In the information technology sector, Didata added eight cents to R4,73 on the improvement in the Nasdaq.
Petrochemicals group Sasol was last at R227, down two cents. – I-Net Bridge