The JSE was roaring ahead in noon trade on Wednesday, fed by higher precious metals prices. Gains were seen across the board, however, and advancers outnumbered decliners on the all-share index by almost three to one.
By 11.58am, the all-share index added 0,94%. Resources rallied 1,38%, the gold-mining index leaped 3,35% and the platinum-mining index perked up 1,97%. Industrials and financials firmed 0,7% and 0,51% respectively, while the banks index was 0,18% in the black.
The rand was bid at 7,36 per dollar from 7,39 when the JSE closed on Tuesday, while gold was quoted at $609,45 a troy ounce from $601,35/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“The market is strong pretty much across the board,” a dealer said. “We were expecting a firmer opening but have been a bit surprised by the upside.”
He added that there was particularly good demand for gold and platinum stocks on the back of higher precious metals prices.
The United Kingdom market was up, which was also helping the JSE, he concluded.
In morning trade, London-listed diversified resources group Anglo American added R3,22 to R338,22 and BHP Billiton was 1,36% or R1,95 better at R144,95.
Harmony Gold soared 4,54% or R5,07 to R116,76. AngloGold Ashanti was up 3,32% or R10,39 to R322,99 and Gold Fields gained 2,87% or R3,50 to R125,50.
Impala Platinum jumped 2,7% or R35 to R1Â 330 and AngloPlat advanced 1,39% or R10,99 to R800,99.
Mittal Steel was 1,65% or R1,45 stronger at R89,45.
Telecoms stocks also featured, with MTN Group gaining 1,94% or R1,30 to R68,30 and Telkom climbing 1,27% or R1,74 to R138,48.
Media group Naspers notched up 2,03% or R2,70 to R136.
Services group Bidvest was R1,24 to the good at R123, having traded at a record high of R123,94.
PP Cement was boosted 2,11% or R8 to R388 and construction group Murray & Roberts rose 2,63% or R1 to R39,05.
After gaining over 5% on Tuesday, pharmaceutical group Aspen shed 1,4% or 47c to R33,04.
On the financial front, Sanlam was 1,71% or 30c stronger at R17,80 and London-listed Old Mutual firmed 21c to R24,20.
Standard Bank climbed 36c to R86,86 and RMB Holdings rallied 1,38% or 40c to R29,39, but Nedbank eased 53c to R121,37. — I-Net Bridge