The JSE was off its worst levels by midday on Tuesday as some bargain hunting emerged after the all-share index fell over 800 points, or 3,7%, on Monday.
The gold-mining index, which was off 4% earlier, had come back and by midday was 2,87% lower.
By 11.53am, the all-share index had shed 0,92%, with the platinum-mining index down 3,58% and resources off 1,95%. Industrials were 0,27% lower, the financial index was flat and the banking index was up 0,56%.
The rand was bid at 6,40 per dollar from 6,42 when the JSE closed on Monday, while gold was quoted at $681,95 a troy ounce from $692,80/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“We have seen some bargain hunting in selective stocks, which is not really surprising after stocks have fallen 5% to 6%. The industrials and financials are helping the overall market,” said an equities trader.
However, commodities prices were still under some pressure, the trader added.
AFX reported that gold futures tumbled almost $27 an ounce on Monday to close at their lowest level in one week as a rally in the United States dollar spurred broad declines in precious-metals prices.
Friday marked the beginning of a “10% to 20% correction that can literally take place in a manner of days, but more likely weeks, since copper, gold and silver had extremely high over-bought readings”, said Peter Grandich, editor of the Grandich Letter.
After several days at its highest level in 26 years, gold for June-delivery fell to a low of $679 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange before closing down $26,80, or 3,8%, at $685 an ounce. The contract hasn’t traded or closed at levels this low since May 8.
The metal has now lost $47 since reaching a high of $732 in electronic trading on Friday, which was the highest price seen since 1980. The contract ended on Friday, however, with a loss of $9,70.
On the JSE, London-listed diversified resources group Anglo American lost R5,50 or 2,01%, to R267,50 and BHP Billiton was down R2,55, or 1,92%, at R130,05.
Petrochemicals group Sasol slipped 5c to R255.
Among gold counters, Harmony Gold tumbled 3,5% or R3,25 to R89,30 and AngloGold Ashanti shed R10,05, or 3,12%, to R312, while Gold Fields was off 1,77%, or R2,58 to R143,48.
AngloPlat weakened 3,74% or R22,99 to R592,01 and Impala was off R45,05, or 3,68%, to R1Â 179,95.
Telkom gave up 50c to R134,50 and MTN Group weakened 70c to R56,30.
In the news, asset management company Coronation Fund Managers reported a strong performance for the six months ended March, with a 27% increase in headline earnings per share to 24,2c from 19c before.
Revenue was up 23% to R311-million from R252-million before and income from fund-management activities increased 33% to R146-million from R110-million. Coronation’s share price was up 1c to 600c.
Electronics and electrical company Reunert reported a 29% rise in headline earnings per share to 232,6c for the six months ended March from 180,5c before. An interim dividend of 63c per share was declared from 52c a year ago.
Turnover increased by 19% to R3,911-billion, resulting in operating profits improving by 23% to R524-million.
Its share price was down 50c to R70.
IT networking and services company Datatec reported a 650% rise in headline earnings per share to US26,9c for the year ended March from 3,59c a year ago.
Revenue was up 18% to $3-billion and operating profit rose 532% to $69-million from $11-million before.
Datatec declared a cash distribution of 30c per share — approximately US5c — to be distributed out of share premium.
Datatec’s share price was at R30,45, down 0,16%.
Massmart, which earlier announced a R1,1-billion BEE deal, was up 150 c, or 2,73%, to R56,50.
Massmart said it intends to enter into a BEE transaction by issuing shares equivalent to approximately 10% of its current issued share capital to trusts representing a broad base of Massmart’s and all its subsidiaries’ staff, previously disadvantaged Massmart Group managers and previously disadvantaged non-executive directors of Massmart.
Massmart is to issue new shares with an approximate value of R1,1-billion to its workers.
Old Mutual was off 6c to R21,45.
Nedbank was 60c firmer at R129,10 and Standard Bank was up 5c to R80,05.
Among industrials, SABMiller was up 54c to R130,50, while Bidvest was up 240c, or 2,42%, to R101,45. PPC was 165c higher at R395 and Barloworld collected 100c to R120,50. — I-Net Bridge