The JSE was weaker in noon trade on Friday, dragged down by weaker world markets and lower commodity prices. Losses were pared by a weaker rand, however.
By 11.52am, the all share index shed 0,37%. The financial and banks indices fell 0,25% and 0,38% respectively. Industrials were flattish (-0,02%). Resources retreated 0,77% and the gold mining index tumbled 2,2%, but the platinum mining index climbed 1,02%.
The rand was bid at 7,28 per dollar from 7,18 when the JSE closed on Thursday, while gold was quoted at $645,98 a troy ounce from $651,55/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“The market has pulled back quite a bit despite the rand weakening,” a dealer said. “The Dow was down 119 points and the Hang Seng was down 388 points — I think we took umbrage from world markets.”
He added that there had been a sell off in commodities overnight, which was also having a negative effect on the JSE.
The market would have been a lot weaker were it not for the softer currency, the dealer asserted.
On the resources index, London-listed Anglo American lost 1,15% or R4 to R342,50, while BHP Billiton slipped 70 cents to R135,55.
Petrochemicals group Sasol was R1,40 softer at R243,75.
Gold Fields slid 3,32% or R4,19 to R122,07, Harmony tumbled 2,35% or R2,40 to R99,60 and AngloGold Ashanti shed 1,67% or R5,78 to R341,21.
AngloPlat dipped R1,50 to R903,50. Impala Platinum, however, was up 1,22% or R2,50 at R207 after trading at a record high of R208,90.
After coming under pressure late on Thursday, Northam rebounded 5,5% or R2,64 to R50,65.
While Swiss-listed luxury goods group Richemont dipped 14 cents to R39,75, London-listed brewer SABMiller was R1,18 stronger at R168,68.
Telkom gained 95 cents to R148,95, but MTN Group gave up 25 cents to R82,50.
Mittal Steel was 86 cents softer at R105,14, while pulp and paper producer Sappi shed R1 to R102.
Furniture retailer JD Group rallied 3,23% or R2,95 to R94,25.
Financial services group Sanlam was 10 cents softer at R19,51.
Standard Bank surrendered 75 cents to R98,35, Nedbank weakened R1,10 to R140 and Absa was 55 cents in the red at R133. – I-Net Bridge