The JSE held on to gains at midday on Wednesday, buoyed by a rebound in overseas markets as a sharp fall overnight in the price crude oil eased concerns about global growth, traders said.
At 11.55am, the all-share index was up 0,46%, thanks to a 1,71% gain in banks and a 1,60% rise in financials. Industrials were up 0,25%.
Resources added 0,30% and gold miners were up 0,81%, while platinum miners gave up 0,80%.
The rand was bid at 7,66 to the US dollar, from 7,75 when the JSE closed on Tuesday, while gold was quoted at $923,75 a troy ounce from $913,95/oz at the JSE’s last close.
Traders said Wall Street gains overnight sparked a rebound in Asia and Europe that spilled over to the local market.
“There’s still a bit a caution. I think the guys are waiting for Wall Street to see if it will add to last night’s gains,” one trader said, adding that the price of crude oil would continue to provide the lead for Wall
Street.
On the JSE’s resources index, Anglo American was up 99 cents at R460 and BHP Billiton added 43 cents to R257,08.
Sasol recovered R10,44, or 2,48%, to R431,45 despite an overnight retreat in the price of crude oil. Brent crude was last at $138,47 per barrel, off the highs of about $145 level achieved late last week but 1,50% firmer than its overnight close.
Among gold miners AngloGold Ashanti shed R1 to R249,10 but Harmony was up R1,64, or 1,89%, at R88,40 and Gold Fields rallied R2,05, or 2,25%, to R93,35.
Platinum miner Angloplat slumped R23,05, or 1,94%, to R1 162,95. Brokerage house UBS Investment Research raised its target price for the share to R1 500 from R1 330, but left its 12-month rating unchanged at neutral.
Impala Platinum inched down nine cents to R252,25 and Lonmin fell R1,83 to R409,17. Deutsche Securities upgraded its recommendation for the stock to buy from hold despite lower production.
Platinum was last at $1 967,50/oz — up $29,50, or 1,52%, from its overnight close.
Elsewhere, brewer SABMiller was up R1,50 at R166,50 and Imperial Holdings added 37 cents to R46,12. It said late on Tuesday that annual headline EPS were expected to decline by between 49% and
54%. Separately, broker Investec Securities maintained its buy recommendation on the stock.
MTN was up R1,14 at R129,36. It said earlier that exclusive talks with India’s Reliance regarding a potential business combination have been extended to July 21.
Among banks, FirstRand led the pack with a 46 cents, or 3,38%, gain to R14,06 followed by Nedbank with a R1,98, or 2,24%, gain at R90,48. – I-Net Bridge