The JSE remained in positive territory in noon trade on Thursday, having benefited from stronger world markets overnight. The market was fairly quiet with value traded failing to top the R2-billion mark.
By 12.03pm, the all-share index added 0,6%. Resources rose 3,25%, the platinum-mining index jumped 3,25% and the gold-mining index gained 0,63%. Financials firmed 0,23% and the banks index was flat (-0,01%), but the all-share industrial index eased 0,16%.
The rand was bid at 7,12 per dollar from 7,14 when the JSE closed on Wednesday, while gold was quoted at $638,60 a troy ounce from $638,30/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“The market is quiet,” a dealer said. “Producer-price index figures came out worse than expected and the market came off a bit, but it has bounced back again.
“It’s steady as she goes. World markets are looking pretty good and we are just following suit at the moment.”
Leading the JSE’s upside, London-listed diversified resources group Anglo American bounced 1,24% or R4,05 to R330,55 and BHP Billiton was 1,65% or R2,20 better at R135,60.
Impala Platinum leaped 3,46% or R6 to R179,50 and AngloPlat advanced 2,99% or R24 to R826.
AngloPlat said on Wednesday that it expects headline earnings per share for the year-to-end December 2006 to be as much as three times higher than in 2005, thanks to higher metal prices and increased volumes.
Gold Fields strengthened 1,56% or R2 to R130,50 and AngloGold Ashanti added R1,34 to R337, but Harmony lost R1,16 to R119,49.
Junior miner Western Areas surged 6,77% or R2,98 to R46,99.
Among industrials, London-listed brewer SABMiller slipped R1,20 to R148,80.
Consumer brands group AVI tumbled 2,06% or 40c to R19.
Services group Bidvest surrendered 1,29% or R1,65 to R126,60.
Retailer New Clicks retreated 1,82% or 20c to R10,80, while Mr Price slumped 2,54% or 60c to R23.
Brand management group Barloworld, however, picked up 1,35% or R2 to R150,50.
Food group Tiger Brands gained 1,79% or R2,80 to R158,80 and media group Naspers notched up R1,20 to R145.
Aspen Pharmacare was 1,51% or 51c higher at R34,31.
Financials were mixed, with London-listed Old Mutual firming 17c to R23,40, but Sanlam slipping 15c to R17,85.
Standard Bank was up 60c at R88,20, but FirstRand fell 13c to R19,80.
Specialist bank Investec was 1,79% or R1,50 in the black at a record high of R85,50. — I-Net Bridge