Following its sharp fall on Tuesday, the JSE remained in the red in noon trade on Wednesday, with world markets generally on the negative side. However, dealers said that the local bourse was already starting to find its feet again having taken a much-needed breather.
By 12.03pm, the-all share index was down 1,5%. Resources retreated 1,37%, with the gold- and platinum-mining indices losing 1,42% and 1,06% respectively. Industrials slipped 1,63%, financials fell 1,83% and the banks index was 2,04% in the red.
The rand was bid at 7,23 per dollar from an overnight close of 7,26, while gold was quoted at $677,65 a troy ounce from 662,45/oz late on Tuesday. At $1 255,50/oz, platinum was up $26,50 from its overnight close.
A dealer said that some support seemed to be coming into the JSE, which was already off its worst levels.
”It is very difficult to read whether there is something behind this pullback or whether it is just a correction that was actually needed,” he commented. ”The whole China story is more about internal regulations to stem over-speculation, rather than anything to do with the economy.”
An 8,8% fall in the Chinese market triggered the global sell-off on Tuesday. However, the benchmark Shanghai Composite index bounced almost 4% on Wednesday.
The dealer noted that platinum had shot higher on Wednesday, gold was starting to pick up again and oil was steady.
”I would expect this market to find its feet again after taking a breather. Markets globally had an incredible multi-year or record highs this year. I think they needed to cool off.
”I don’t think anyone really believes that a China slowdown is going to topple the global economy. This seems to be a cooling off period rather than a collapse,” he concluded.
On the resources index, London-listed Anglo American slid 1,91% or R6,70 to R343,30. BHP Billiton lost 1% or R1,46 to R144,39.
AngloGold Ashanti shed 1,24% or R3,99 to R319,01 and Gold Fields gave up 1,84% or R2,35 to R125,50.
DRDGOLD dived 7,85% or 46 cents to R5,40.
Before the opening, the company reported a net loss of R921,5-million for the December quarter, compared with a loss of R80-million three months earlier, as the full effect of a Fijian mine closure, including a R783-million impairment, were reflected in the accounts.
A headline loss per share of 47,5 cents was recorded from total operations, while continuing operations recorded a 12,7 cent per share loss, compared with an 11,8 cents loss in the September quarter.
Impala Platinum was off 1,43% or R3,01 to R207 and AngloPlat eased R8,95 to R1 039,05.
Petrochemicals group Sasol, however, inched 64 cents higher to R233,65.
Among industrials, London-listed brewer SABMiller was 1,82% or R2,95 lower at R159.
Mittal Steel was 3,18% or R3,55 softer at R108 and Hiveld shed 2,41% or R1,94 to R78,51.
Transport and logistics group Imperial surrendered 1,6% or R2,60 to R160.
Imperial on Wednesday reported a 21% rise in headline earnings per share (HEPS) to 749 cents for the six months ended December from 616,9 cents for the corresponding period a year ago. Diluted HEPS were up 19% to 686,9 cents from a previous 578,2 cents.
A distribution of 280 cents per share was declared, comprising a capital distribution out of share premium of 160 cents and a dividend of 120 cents.
The distribution was up 22% from 230 cents a year ago.
Imperial also announced that Bill Lynch had decided to relinquish his position as chief executive with effect from November 1, ”or such later date as a suitable successor is appointed”.
Media group Naspers dropped 5,63% or R10,20 to R171, remaining under pressure following Tuesday’s news that it was seeking to raise $750-million for expansion by way of a private placement to institutional investors of new Naspers N shares.
On the financial front, London-listed Old Mutual fell 15 cents to R25,05. Sanlam was 1,14 or 22 cents softer at R19 and Liberty Group lost 1,5% or R1,20 at R79,05.
Banking group FirstRand tumbled 2,6% or 62 cents to R23,20, Nedbank dropped 2,89% or R3,94 to R132,21, Standard Bank shed 1,96% or R2 to R100,01 and Absa was 1,23% or R1,70 weaker at R136,50. — I-Net Bridge