After its 2,76% fall on Monday, which capped seven days of losses, the JSE was back in the black in noon trade on Tuesday, supported by a more positive global picture and a recovery in commodity prices. The market remained cautious, however, due to uncertainty as to whether the recovery would be sustained.
By 12.13pm, the all-share index added 1,47%. Resources rallied 2,55%, with the gold- and platinum-mining indices jumping 2,75% and 2,91% respectively. Industrials climbed 0,74%, financials firmed 0,72% and the banks index was 1,55% better.
The rand was bid at R6,52 per dollar from R6,59 when the JSE closed on Monday, while gold was quoted at $660,50 a troy ounce from $651,85/oz at the JSE’s last close. Gold on Monday traded as low as $636/oz — its weakest level since April 28.
“We’ve got a very cautious market. It has gone up, but the big question everyone has is: Is this a dead-cat bounce?” commented Cortex’s Lavan Gopaul.
He continued that the market had jumped at the opening, with stocks that were hit hard on Monday such as Anglo American, gold shares and banks pushed up quite nicely.
Gopaul said that the JSE had been helped by the improvement in commodity prices as well as world markets.
He said that the Dow only finishing slightly weaker overnight gave the market hope that there would be improvement in markets globally.
Gopaul noted that a sell-off could wipe away six months of gains on a market in a matter of days. It could take months for people who had been burnt to recoup their losses.
“What happens on world markets will dictate our fortunes. If world markets sell off in the next day or two, we will sell off and be in decided retreat. If world markets flatten or tick up, then we will have some hope.”
On the JSE’s upside, Anglo advanced 3,08% or R7,29 to R244 and BHP Billiton was 1,84% or R2,23 better at R123,64.
Petrochemicals group Sasol strengthened 2,98% or R7,15 to R246,99.
AngloPlat was up 2,46% or R14 to R584 and Impala leaped 2,34% or R26 to R1 136.
Harmony Gold surged 4,07% or R3,54 to R90,49, Gold Fields gained 2,98% or R3,89 to R134,40 and AngloGold Ashanti added 1,5% or R4,50 to R304,50.
Swiss-listed luxury-goods group Richemont rose 2,96% or 86 cents to R29,87.
Transport and logistics group Imperial rallied 2,45% or R3,55 to R148,25, services group Bidvest strengthened 1,68% or R1,69 to R102,49 and brand-management group Barloworld was 1,37% or R1,55 better at R115.
Media group Naspers rebounded 2,15% or R2,51 to R119,51.
Hospital group Netcare, however, tumbled 2,26% or 22 cents to R9,52.
Retailer Truworths, which rocketed almost 10% in closing trade on Monday, slumped 5,21% or R1,38 to R25,11.
Construction company Group Five slid 3,39% or one rand to R28,50.
Banking group FirstRand forged ahead 2,51% or 43 cents to R17,55, and Standard Bank was bolstered 1,27% or 94 cents to R74,94. Nedbank notched up 1,1% or R1,25 to R115 and Absa added 1,37% or R1,47 to R108,80.
Liberty Group rebounded 1,94% or R1,50 to R79, but London- listed Old Mutual lost 19 cents to R20,31. — I-Net Bridge