Lower gold-mining stocks as a result of profit-taking weighed on the JSE on Tuesday, leaving the bourse 0,31% in the red by midday.
At noon, the gold-mining index had pulled back 2,51%, but the platinum-mining index was 0,49% firmer, while resources added 0,54%. Industrials gave up 1,16%, banks lost 0,88% and financials were off 0,76%.
The rand was bid at 6,71 to the United States dollar from 6,74 when the JSE closed on Monday, while gold was quoted at $905,80 a troy ounce from $902,50/oz at the JSE’s last close.
One trader said that even though the JSE did pick up a bit on Monday, the overall market trend was down.
”There is all this negativity, with fears of a recession in the US, hyperinflation as well as the credit slump. I am convinced that we will get days like yesterday [Monday] where we get a bit of a relief bounce on the JSE, but the trend is still down,” said a local equities trader.
In the past few days, the gold and platinum prices have seen a rally because of a weakening US dollar, geo-political concerns, fears of a US recession and safe-haven buying.
On Friday, the gold price pierced the $900 an ounce level, and the platinum price rallied closely behind. Both precious metals have hit new highs this week.
Platinum set a fresh all-time high on Monday while silver reached its highest level since November 1980. Platinum raced to a high of $1 590/oz on Monday and, despite some profit-taking, the metal held above $1 565, closing at $1 570. The gold price reached a record high of $914,25/oz on Monday.
”With the gold price above the $900 level, we are bound to see a bit of profit-taking,” said another trader, but he added that questions of safety on the mines as well as earnings reports, among other things, had to be considered when looking at gold stocks. He said that the rally in the gold price couldn’t keep local gold shares up in the black if other issues were dragging them lower.
At noon, gold miner AngloGold Ashanti lost R8, or 2,33%, to R336, Goldfields fell R3,74, or 3,09%, to R117,26 and Harmony gave up R2,34, or 2,7%, to R84,31.
In the resources sector, BHP Billiton inched up R1,54 to R203,40, while Anglo American gained R8,80, or 2,28%, to R395 and Sasol was down R2,50 to R347,50.
Among platinum counters, Anglo Platinum improved R6,10 to R1 181,10 and Impala Platinum perked up 95 cents to R262.
Swiss-based luxury goods group Richemont retreated R1,14, or 2,71%, to R40,98 and brewer SABMiller dipped R5, or 2,83%, to R171,55.
Banking group Nedbank weakened R1,50, or 1,27%, to R116,50, while Absa dropped R1,23, or 1,15%, to R105,75. — I-Net Bridge