The JSE was weaker in noon trade on Thursday as a stronger rand and lower commodities prices resulted in resources stocks feeling the pinch. Overall the market was quiet, marking time ahead of the Monetary Policy Committee announcement on interest rates.
By 12.13pm, the all-share index eased 0,1%. Resources retreated 0,38%, with the gold- and platinum-mining indices losing 1,43% and 1,16% respectively. Financials fell 0,17% and the banks index surrendered 0,3%, but the all-share industrial index was 0,3% stronger.
The rand was bid at 7,05 per dollar from 7,07 when the JSE closed on Tuesday, while gold was quoted at $630,90 a troy ounce from $636,65/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“It’s mainly a resources story,” a dealer said. “Resources are looking a bit shabby. Gold, platinum and oil all came down and that just shook the market. The rand is also stronger, which isn’t helping.”
He added that on the upside, Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont was boosted by news that United Kingdom tobacco company Gallaher had received a takeover approach, which is understood to be from Japan Tobacco. This spurred demand for all UK tobacco companies, including BAT, in which Richemont and Remgro both have stakes.
Sugar and aluminium group Tongaat-Hulett, meanwhile, surged after it announced that it is to acquire Anglo American Corporation Zimbabwe’s 50,35% stake in Hippo Valley Estate for $36-million through its wholly owned subsidiary, Triangle Sugar Corporation.
“The market is pretty quiet. There is an outside chance of a 100 basis points rate hike and it is nervous of that. I think there might be a relief rally in financials and industrials if it is only 50 basis points. But if the rand firms after the announcement, resources could pull back further,” the dealer concluded.
On the market’s upside, Richemont rallied 1,79% or 68c to R38,65 and Remgro rose 85c to R162,75.
London-listed brewer SABMiller was 80c stronger at R147.
Tongaat soared 4,79% or R4,89 to R106,89.
Chemical and explosives group AECI jumped 1,35% or 92c to R68,90 and hospital group Netcare was 1,25% or 16c better at R12,96.
AECI said after the close on Wednesday that it is expecting headline and attributable earnings per ordinary share for the year ending December to be between 810c and 880c per share — 68% to 83% higher than in 2005.
Cellular network operator MTN Group gained 28c to R75,98, having touched a record high of R76,39.
Resources group Exxaro was up 1,57% or 85c at R54,85.
Anglo American, however, dipped 39c to R341,61.
Gold Fields tumbled 2,24% or R2,95 to R128,50, Harmony dropped 1,92% or R2,20 to R112,30 and AngloGold Ashanti shed R1,48 to R328,51.
AngloPlat slipped 1,39% or R11,50 to R814,50 and Impala weakened 1,12% or R1,99 to R175.
Mittal Steel was 80c softer at R91,20 and pulp and paper producer Sappi gave up 90c to R113,35.
Retailer Woolies weakened 1,12% or 19c to R16,80.
Financial services group Sanlam slipped 1,47% or 26c to R17,45.
Standard Bank surrendered 75c to R86,75 and FirstRand fell 9c to R19,56. — I-Net Bridge