The JSE continued to trade in positive territory in midday trade on Monday with world markets stronger after Wall Street’s recovery on Friday.
The Dow closed 1,8% higher after the Fed Reserve lowered the rate it charges banks on loans from its discount window, seeing rising risks to the United States economy as the residential mortgage crisis widened.
At midday on the JSE, the all-share index was up 2,29%. Resources climbed 2,78% and the gold and platinum mining indices added 1,20% and 1,22% respectively. Industrials were 1,89% higher, financials added 2,03% and banks gained 2,74%.
The rand was bid at R7,36 to the dollar from R7,41 when the JSE closed on Friday, while gold was quoted at $658,65 a troy ounce from $657/oz at the JSE’s last close.
“We are following world markets after the Fed injected liquidity into the US market, which then eased world markets,” said a local trader.
He added that emerging markets were up between 3% and 5% in Asia, and the JSE was rebounding from its previous losses, maintaining good levels throughout Monday.
Anglo American was up 3,83%, or R14, to R380, BHP Billiton added R5,94, or 3,33%, to R184,50 and Kumba Iron Ore firmed R7,30, or 4,12%, to R184,30.
Synthetics fuels giant Sasol rose 2,46%, or R6,50, to R270,50.
Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti climbed 2,27%, or R5,95, to R267,70. Platinum miner Anglo Platinum lost R13,99, or 1,57%, at R876,01, but Impala Platinum added 3,93%, or seven rand, to R185.
Northam Platinum lost 4,75% or R2,35 to R47,15 as it was trading ex-dividend on Monday and Aquarius Platinum was last trading at R200, which was R10, or 5,26%, better from its close.
PPC collected 3,32%, or R1,26, to R39,25, and among construction stocks, Aveng added 3,17% or R1,45, to R47,20 and Group Five lifted 2,04%, or R1,10, to R55,10.
Brewery giant SAB Miller collected R2,37, or 1,33%, to R179,99.
In the housing goods and textile sector, Richemont eased four cents to R43,50 and Steinhoff edged up 20 cents to R22,30.
Among retailers, Foschini rallied 4,63%, or R2,62, at R59,22 and JD Group climbed 4,78%, or R2,87, to R62,92.
Naspers rallied six rand, or 3,72%, to R167,50 and Caxton was 4,93% higher, or 74 cents, at R15,75.
In the telecommunications sector, Telkom added eight rand, or 5,23%, to R161 and MTN Group surged R4,84, or 5,27%, to R96,60.
Banking group Absa advanced 2,45%, or three rand, to R125,50, and Standard Bank gained 4,83%, or R4,45, to R96,50. — I-Net Bridge