The JSE was weaker in noon trade on Tuesday after futures-related selling forced it to surrender gains seen earlier in the day. Derivatives players were engaged in both hedging and profit-taking activity, traders said.
By 11.54am, the all-share and all-share industrial indices shed 0,97% and 0,45% respectively. Financials fell 0,81% and the banks index lost 1,59%. Resources retreated 1,54%, but the gold (+0,06%) and platinum (+0,05%) indices were flattish.
The rand was bid at R6,10 per dollar from R6,12 when the JSE closed on Monday, while gold was quoted at $568 a troy ounce from $569,35/oz at the JSE’s last close.
A dealer attributed the JSE’s weakness entirely to futures-related activity.
“We are seeing quite a few baskets going through. There is quite a bit of profit-taking. There are also structures coming through as people put in protection on the downside,” he commented.
The dealer explained that following the JSE’s break above 20 000 last Wednesday, there were concerns that it had run ahead of itself and it was running out of steam. This had sparked profit-taking on Friday and while the bourse had bounced on Monday, selling had resumed. There was little else to give the JSE direction.
On the JSE’s downside, London-listed resources group Anglo American tumbled 2% or R4,62 to R226,88 and BHP Billiton lost 1,48% or R1,63 to R108,75.
Petrochemicals group Sasol slid 3,16% or eight rand to R245.
While AngloPlat dropped 3,58% or R19,70 to R530,10, Impala leaped 2,5% or R27,50 to R1 125,50 rand. AngloPlat and Impala earlier traded at record highs of R557,99 and R1 145 respectively.
AngloGold Ashanti eased R2,10 to R368,40, but Gold Fields gained 90 cents to R143 and Harmony was 50 cents higher at R112.
Swiss-listed luxury-goods group Richemont slid 1,67% or 46 cents to R27,10 and London-listed brewer SABMiller slumped 2,62% or R3,23 to R119,87.
Media group Naspers weakened 2,49% or R3,25 to R127,15.
Food group Tiger Brands fell 1,24% or R1,99 to R158,01.
Telecoms stocks remained the flavour of the month, however. Telkom, which was up 2,68% or R4,20 at R160,90, earlier traded at a record high of R162,50. MTN Group gained 1,05% or 66 cents to R63,35.
Pulp and paper producer Sappi bounced 1,34% or R1,05 to R79,30.
Transport and logistics group Imperial perked up 1,65% or R2,60 to R160,60, having earlier reached an all-time high of R164,50.
On the financial front, investment company Remgro was down 1,82% or R2,25 to R121,50.
Banking group FirstRand plunged 3,65% or 73 cents to R19,26 and its major shareholder RMB Holdings was 2,96% or 87 cents in the red at R28,49.
Life assurer Liberty Group was up 60 cents at R88, while London-listed Old Mutual firmed 1,41% or 29 cents to R20,83.
Liberty Group earlier traded at a lifetime high of R89,01. — I-Net Bridge