The JSE was down sharply at midday on Wednesday as United States sub-prime issues and low quality mortgage loan concerns led the Dow lower, which had a knock-on effect on the rest of the world.
At 12.03pm, the JSE all-share index fell 2,79%, with resources dumping 3,25%, and the gold and platinum mining indices tumbling 3,75% and 4,63% respectively.
Financials gave up 2,15% and banks dipped 2,54%. Industrials were 2,59% lower.
The rand was bid at 7,17 to the US dollar from 7,09 when the JSE closed on Tuesday while gold was quoted at $660,65 a troy ounce from $664,83/oz at the
JSE’s last close.
“After what we saw last week, it was clear that there was uncertainty in the market, and its got to do with the US. There was a massive amount of speculation and people let down their guards — they were prepared to put their money into very risky assets. They buy because there is a story that they can pass their shares on, like musical shares. Now they are under pressure and they can’t sell all their funds, so they sell the good shares. It’s a global factor, not only in the US,” said a Johannesburg-based trader.
He added that the American Home Mortgage Investment Corporation announcement that it hasn’t been able to tap into its credit lines and has hired advisers to consider its options, including the sale of its assets, was a big killer to the US market. “The market started to recover, there was good news and the confidence index was up. As soon as there was bad news, it took a knock.”
He said that markets wouldn’t recover until all the uncertainty was out of the market, which could only happen with time and good news.
He also said that the local market was very vulnerable on the rand. “The trade deficit was seen yesterday [Tuesday], and there was a big current account deficit which is funded by portfolio flows. Once they start to dry up, the rand can take a knock. It’s already taking a beating.
“We have benefited from the inflows, but have taken a bruising from the outflows,” he concluded.
Figures released on Tuesday by Customs and Excise showed South Africa recorded a deficit of R5,314-billion for its trade with non-Southern African Customs Union trading partners in June after a R2,7-billion deficit in May.
At 12:02pm, Anglo American shed R9, or 2,17%, to R405, and BHP Billiton fell R7,50, or 3,57% to R202,50.
Among gold miners, AngloGold Ashanti dropped R10,72, or 3,56%, to R290,50 and Gold Fields eased R4,88 or 4,16% to R112,51.
Harmony slipped R3,30, or 3,36% to R94,95.
Anglo Platinum dumped R55,02, or 5,57%, to R933, and Impala Platinum fell R8,85, or 4,21%, to R201,15.
MTN Group retreated R3,35, or 3,31% to R98 and Telkom slumped R6 or 3,55% to R163.
Among banks, Standard Bank gave up R1,70 to R100,40, and Nedbank gave up R4,90, or 3,65% to R129,50.
Petrochemical Giant Sasol dipped R8,36, or 3,07% to R263,64 and brewer SABMiller eased R2,46 to R179. – I-Net Bridge