The JSE retained its strong tone at noon on Wednesday, led higher by miners, which were being buoyed by better metals prices, while futures-related buying ahead of the close-out on Thursday provided additional support.
At noon, the all-share index was up 0,89%. Resources firmed 1,34%, while the gold and platinum mining indices gained 1,34% and 2,21% respectively.
Industrials improved 0,54%, financials added 0,40% and banks advanced 0,34%.
The rand was bid at 7,08 to the US dollar, unchanged from when the JSE closed on Tuesday, while gold was quoted at $660.15 a troy ounce from $657,65 at the JSE’s last close.
“The guys are piling in on expectations that we are going to have a strong futures close-out. It’s never a sure thing, but over the past few years we’ve had fairly strong close-outs,” one trader said.
Boosted by a firmer platinum price, miner Impala Platinum was the top gainer among leading mining counters, soaring 3,44%, or R8,21, to R247.
Anglo Platinum was up R12 to R1 292 after earlier achieving a trading high of R1 304,49. Lonmin added 1,22%, or R7,24, to R599.
Gold miner Harmony climbed 2,56%, or R2,60, to R104, Gold Fields gained 1,05%, or R1,20, to R115,70 and Anglogold Ashanti was R2,50 better at R288,80.
On the resources index, Anglo American strengthened 1,38%, or R5,98, to R439 and BHP Billiton firmed R1,80 to R195.
Heavyweight industrial group Barloworld edged up R1,20 to R196, brewer SABMiller picked up R1 to R180,50 and luxury goods group Richemont inched up nine cents to R42,98.
Among banks, Standard Bank was up 56 cents to R107,35, Nedbank perked up R1,04 to R144,05 and Absa was 25 cents higher at R139,25. – I-Net Bridge