After initially following Asian markets weaker at the opening on Wednesday, the JSE turned around during the course of the morning session and had moved into the black by midday. The local market took succour from the FTSE’s move higher.
At noon, the all-share index was up 0,18%. Resources were 0,28% higher and gold miners gained 1,74%. However, the platinum mining index shed 1,07%.
Industrials were down 0,12%, but financials were 0,79% better and banks added 1,56%.
The rand was bid at 7,83 to the US dollar from 7,89 when the JSE closed on Tuesday, while gold was quoted at $934,47 a troy ounce from $942,75/oz at the JSE’s last close.
Most Asian markets saw another day of declines on Wednesday on worries about the health of the US economy, Dow Jones Newswires reports. The Nikkei
ended down 1,3% — marking the tenth straight session of declines — something that hasn’t happened since 1965.
In London the FTSE100 was last up just over 1%.
A local equities trader said the FTSE had bounced nicely this morning and US futures are currently pointing to a firmer opening on Wall Street.
“We are lucky that we resources rich – it’s the golds and the likes of Anglo and Billiton that are helping our market higher today,” the trader added.
“Industrials are also looking better — but they are not running away. It’s probably a bit of bottom fishing. Banks are also firmer,” she added.
On the JSE Anglo American was up 81 cents at R542,50 and BHP Billiton collected R1,20 at R293,95. Sasol inched up R3,50 to R457,50 as the oil price continued to rise. Brent crude futures were last up 62 cents at $141,54 per barrel after earlier touching $142,34.
Among gold miners AngloGold Ashanti added R9,60, or 3,69%, to R270 while Gold Fields was up 10 cents to R101,05.
Platinum miner Angloplat was down R9,80 at R1 290,20 and Implats shed R4,01, or 1,32%, to R298,99.
Global brewing giant SABMiller was off R1,70 to R175,10 and Imperial was off 85 cents, or 1,67%, to R50. Barloworld shed R1,27, or 1,63%, to R76,78.
However, Bidvest collected R1, or 1,07%, to R94,80 and PPC was up 48 cents, or 1,73%, to R28,28.
MTN was up R1,65, or 1,37%, to R121,75.
Among banks, Standard Bank added R1,17, or 1,58%, to R75,27, while Nedbank was up 55 cents to R90,20.
Absa garnered 86 cents, or 1,06%, to R82,11 and FirstRand was up 21 cents, or 1,6%, to R13,30. – I-Net Bridge