The JSE was slightly weaker just after midday on Wednesday after a volatile morning on which the bourse had to contend with the opposing forces of weaker world markets and a softer rand. Trade was fairly brisk given the market’s uncertainty, with over R3,5-billion-worth of shares changing hands.
By 12.16pm, the all-share and all-share industrial indices shed 0,33% and 0,48% respectively. Financials fell 0,71% and the banks index surrendered 0,87%. Resources were flat (+0,03%), but the gold-mining index gave up 0,9% and the platinum-mining index weakened 0,31%.
The rand was bid at 7,34 per dollar from 7,28 when the JSE closed on Tuesday, while gold was quoted at $610,93 a troy ounce from $609,40/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“The market has been all over the place,” a dealer said. “We’ve had scares in Thailand and Venezuela, which have got emerging markets into a bit of a tizz. People are reassessing their appetite for risk and the rand has come under pressure. But Asian markets were knocked because of the Thailand situation and Europe is down. Faced with those factors, the JSE is battling to find direction.”
He continued that resources shares had been stronger but were now pulling back. They were down in London, which was having a negative effect locally.
Volumes were, however, high for this kind of “indifferent” market, the dealer commented.
On the resources index, London-listed diversified resources group Anglo American was up 1,01% or R3,36 at R336, but BHP Billiton was 45 cents softer at R125,10.
Petrochemicals group Sasol slipped R1,95 to R232.
Harmony Gold dropped 3% or R2,93 to R94,70 and Gold Fields fell R1,11 to R123,64, but AngloGold Ashanti inched 50 cents higher to R326,01.
Impala Platinum was off R1,38 at R173,37, although AngloPlat added R6 to R806.
Among industrials, Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont retreated 1,09% or 45 cents to R40,65. London-listed brewer SABMiller was down 60 cents at R164,20 despite touching a record high of R165,50 mid-morning.
Cellular network operator MTN Group tumbled 2,04% or R1,66 to R79,79 and Telkom weakened R1,26 to R148,75.
Media group Naspers slumped 2,03% or R3,34 to R161,56.
Retailer Mr Price, however, was 1,9% or 48 cents stronger at R25,70. It traded at a lifetime high of R25,80 after it reported a 24,1% increase in sales for the third quarter ended December 30 2006, from the comparable period in the previous year.
The group increased sales by 28,3% in December with comparable sales increasing by 17,4% in that month.
“This is a very solid result. It’s partly a result of high consumer spending, but it also has a lot to do with the quality of the company and its merchandise,” the dealer commented. “It also gives an indication of what appears to be an attractive holiday season. Other retailers are expected to come out with good statements in the coming days.”
Ellerine rang up 1,42% or R1,10 to R78,50. Mittal Steel climbed 70 cents to R97,20.
On the financial index, investment company Remgro rose 1,34% or R2,29 to R173,49.
London-listed financial services group Old Mutual lost 22 cents to R24,86.
Sanlam surrendered 18 cents to R19,72.
Banking group FirstRand fell 1,3% or 30 cents to R22,80. Standard Bank pulled back 71 cents to R97,05, Absa sagged 99 cents to R124,51 and Nedbank was 65 cents in the red at R132,35.
Specialist bank Investec slid 2,18% or R2 to R89,60. — I-Net Bridge