Although still 117 points in the red, the JSE perked up in midday trade on Monday after news that the government would not impose a windfall tax on petrochemicals giant Sasol.
The local bourse received added support from signs that global markets were beginning to turn around after last week’s huge sell-offs.
“The market started to turn around as Sasol started climbing,” a local trader said.
Sasol, which was R7 down at one stage during the morning session, soared 8,43%, or R22, on the news to trade at R283 a share, providing a shot in the arm for the local bourse.
At 12.02pm, the JSE all-share index was 0,43%, with resources adding 0,14%. The gold- and platinum-mining indices gave up 2,01% and 1,49% respectively. Financials shed 0,29% and industrials were 1,07% lower. Banks edged up 0,16%.
The rand was bid at 7,10 to the United States dollar from 7,08 when the JSE closed on Friday, while gold was quoted at $674,10 a troy ounce from $668,15/oz quoted at the JSE’s last close.
Among other resource stocks, Anglo American eased R1,50 to R396,50, and Kumba Iron Ore lost R3,65, or 1,88%, to R190,45.
Among gold miners, AngloGold Ashanti weakened R10,66, or 3,70%, to R277,34.
Anglo Platinum was R15,96 weaker, or 1,77%, at R883,99 and Lonmin eased R4,88, or 1,05%, to R460,92.
Aquarius Platinum tumbled R9, or 4,55%, to R189,00.
Paper and Pulp producer Sappi dipped one rand to R110,50 and Mondi pulled back R0,50 to R65,05.
Sappi on Monday reported an increase in its quarterly earnings with diluted headline earnings per share (HEPS) up at 23 US cents in the quarter to end June 2007 from a headline loss per share of 20 US cents for the quarter to end June 2006. This was on the back of improved sales.
Sales were $1,3-billion in the June quarter, which is 1,6% down from the $1,32 billion reported in the March quarter but 6,8% higher from the $1,2-billion posted for the same quarter a year ago.
In construction and building, Aveng slumped R1,74 to R50,40 and Group Five was off R2,70, or 4,35%, to R59,30.
Diversified industrial group Barloworld shed R3,70, or 3,08% to R116,30 and Imperial Holdings pulled back R2,90 or 2,09% to R135,70.
Swiss luxury group Richemont eased nine cents to R43,90.
General retailer Foschini eased R1,11, or 1,88%, to R57,99 and Truworths shed 74 cents, or 2,06%, to R35,20.
Massmart retreated one rand, or 1,17%, to R84,50 and New Clicks added two cents to R14,47. New Clicks has cancelled and de-listed 20-million ordinary shares, it said on Monday.
Media group Naspers fell three rand, or 1,73%, to R170, Johncom lost two rand, or 2,20%, to R89.
Sun International retreated R1,96 to R144 and City Lodge Hotels dropped three rand, or 3,90%, to R74.
In banks, Absa was 37 cents lower, to R131,85, FirstRand added ten cents to R22,70 and Nedbank eased R1,19 to R131,80.
South African banking group Nedbank lifted headline earnings by 31,9% to R2,78-billion for the six months ended June.
This translated into headline earnings per share of 700 cents, which was a 34,1% increase on the previous comparable half-year. Fully diluted headline earnings per share increased by 32,2% to 673 cents, they announced on Monday. — I-Net Bridge