/ 10 July 2007

JSE slightly down at noon

The JSE was slightly down at noon on Tuesday with all the shares looking toppish after the market’s good run the day before, according to a trader.

At 12.01pm, the all-share index was flat (-0,06%). Resources lost 0,70%, the gold index rose 0,98% and the platinum index slipped 1,10%. Banks rallied 1,49%, financials added 0,67% and industrials strengthened 0,24%.

The rand was bid at 6,97 to the United States dollar from 6,95 when the JSE closed on Monday, while gold was quoted at $662,05 a troy ounce from $661,15 at the JSE’s last close.

“The market has been quite volatile and after a good run yesterday [Monday], we see a lot of profit-taking with everything looking quite toppish,” a trader said.

On the resource index, Anglo American slumped R4,75 to R461 with BHP Billiton slipping 1,05%, or R2,26, to R213,75.

Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti added 0,71% to R288,40, Goldfields rose R1,75 to R116 and Harmony was 60 cents better at R102,40.

Among platinum stocks, Anglo Platinum eased R6,92 to R1 217,99 and Impala Platinum pulled back 1,55%, or R3,60, to R229,40.

Among banks, FirstRand added 2,93% to R23,88, Standard Bank was up R1,85 to R106,50, Nedbank gained R1 to R139. — I-Net Bridge