The JSE touched a fresh all-time high on Wednesday, albeit in thin volumes, aided by strong gains for gold miners and resources.
Volumes were very thin as many players are away until the new year, having chosen to take the week between Christmas and New year off.
By noon, the all-share index was up 1,38%, after having touched a fresh all time high of 24 973,369. Resources advanced 1,79%, gold miners collected 2,58% and platinums added 1,21%. The industrial, financial and banking indices also touched fresh record highs, up 1,1%, 1,13% and 0,74% respectively.
The rand was bid at 7,03 per dollar from 6,99 when the JSE closed on Friday, while gold was quoted at $627,50 a troy ounce from $619,75 at the JSE’s last close.
“After the good run we had last week, the JSE has continued higher amid general happiness. However, the next couple of days are generally the quietest of the year in terms of volumes,” said a local equities trader.
He added that gains on the United States market on Tuesday and the firmer FTSE in London were also helping matters.
London-listed resources giant Anglo American was up R5,25, or 1,57%, at R339,50, while BHP Billiton added R1,79, or 1,41%, to R128,30.
Synthetics fuels producer Sasol was R7,71, or 3,06%, firmer at R260,01.
Among gold counters, AngloGold Ashanti was up R11,50, or 3,61%, at R329,95, while Gold Fields added R2,84, or 2,2%, to R131,50, while Harmony collected R2,29, or 2,13%, to R110.
Among platinums, Impala Platinum was R3 or 1,64%, to R185,50, while Anglo platinum advanced R7,98 to R857,98.
On the industrial front, London-listed brewer SABMiller edged up R3,55, or 2,21%, to R164,05. This was an all-time high for the counter. PPC was R11, or 2,8%, stronger at R404 and Barloworld advanced R5 or 3,13%, to R165, matching its all-time high.
Bidvest, however, was off 19 cents at R133,60 and Imperial was 41 cents softer at R164,44.
Illovo was 34 cents, or 1,72%, better at R20,15.
Mobile network provider MTN Group added R1,20, or 1,41%, to R86,60, while Telkom collected R2, or 1,42%, to R143.
Media group Naspers was up R1,20 to R163,20, while Johncom — at R86,50 — was up 50 cents, also matching its all-time high.
Among retailers, Edcon was 60 cents firmer at R39,70, Woolies was up 12 cents to R18,02 and Truworths collected 64 cents, or 2,04%, to R31,99.
Among banks, Nedbank was up 70 cents to R134,80, ABSA added R2,38, or 1,92%, to R126,39, FirstRand added 15 cents to R22,70 and Standard Bank notched up 50 cents to R95,50.
Old Mutual plc was up 40 cents to R24. — I-Net Bridge