The JSE was weaker in noon trade on Friday following a negative close on Wall Street overnight. Lower precious metals prices further weighed on the local bourse. By 11.58am, the all share index shed 0,24%. Resources retreated 1%, the gold mining index tumbled 2,44% and the platinum mining index lost 0,72%. The banks index surrendered 0,59%. The financial index was flattish however, while the all share industrial index climbed 0,39%.
The rand was bid at 6,27 per dollar from 6,24 when the JSE closed on Thursday, while gold was quoted at $545,45 a troy ounce from $549,65/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“The market has been all over the place. It fell sharply at the opening, but it has picked up quite a bit since then,” a dealer said.
He added that the overnight performance on US markets was the main reason the JSE was in the red, while lower metals prices were also a factor.
“I think there is nervousness on global markets. The mood is not that positive at the moment,” the dealer commented.
On the resources index, London-listed Anglo American lost 1,71% or R3,66 to R210,99. It traded as low as R208 after being downgraded to “underweight” from “overweight” by Morgan Stanley.
BHP Billiton dipped 30 cents to R100. AngloGold Ashanti slumped 4,05% or R12,50 to R296 and Gold Fields gave up 95 cents to R119,05.
Harmony dived 5,94% or R4,90 to R77,55, but Western Areas rocketed 13,22% or 80 cents to R40. Western Areas traded as high as R41,50 on news that Harmony had acquired a 29,2% interest in the company.
The average price of each Western Areas share purchased was at a 7,4% premium to the 30-day volume weighted average price of R41,07.
AngloPlat lost 1,14% or R5,50 to R477, while Impala eased R3,15 to R1 014,85.
Petrochemicals group Sasol (SOL) climbed one rand to R205, while diversified miner Kumba bounced 2,44% or R2,39 to R100,40.
On the all share industrial index, retailer Edcon rallied 5,01% or R1,70 to R35,65 following its announcement that it had terminated negotiations with Coles Myer regarding the offer made for its Myer chain in Australia.
“I think people were nervous about the deal. Other local retailers haven’t made much headway there,” the dealer commented.
Illovo Sugar meanwhile was quoted 2,33% or 35 cents higher at R15,35 after earlier trading at a best ever level of R15,50. This followed news that that it had received two offers, both of which are from “significant” European sugar companies for a majority stake in the group.
Mittal Steel was 1% or 60 cents stronger at R60,60 and cellular network operator MTN Group gained 1,49% or 85 cents to R58,05.
Media group Naspers gained 1,71% or R2,05 to R122,05.
Pulp and paper producer Sappi, however, slipped 45 cents to R90,04, while PP Cement weakened 1,06% or four rand to R374.
Financials to firm included London-listed Old Mutual, which was up 1,01% or 20 cents at R20,10. Liberty Group gained 1,03% or 85 cents to R83 and Sanlam was 15 cents better at R15,75.
FirstRand, however, fell 1,03% or 20 cents to R19,20, Absa slipped one rand to R113,50 and Nedbank was off 70 cents at R122. – I-Net Bridge