South African stocks were deep in the red by noon on Monday, with resources and gold stocks still coming under pressure and recording sharp losses.
Uncertainty over the final outcome of the proposed United States bail-out plan is having a negative impact on global markets.
“Markets are in the red — big time,” a trader said.
The trader pointed out that there was still a lack of confidence in world markets.
“Markets are still waiting to see the outcome of the bail-out in the US financial sector,” said the trader.
Traders say the long-term implications of the bail-out are still not clear, and the market is becoming weary of hearing that “there could be a slowdown in worldwide economic growth”.
At 11.56am, the all-share index was 3,31% lower, with resources sinking 5,17%. Platinum miners were 2,27% weaker and gold stocks were down 3,76%.
Industrials lost 1,65%, financials dropped 2,07% and banks shed 1,88%.
The rand was bid at 8,21 to the dollar from 8,08 when the JSE closed on Friday, while gold was last quoted at $876,58 a troy ounce from $893,62 when the JSE closed on Friday.
Platinum was trading at $1 113,50/oz, from a previous close of $1 108/oz.
Brent crude was at $100,17 per barrel, from its previous close of $103,54 per barrel.
Dow Jones Newswires reports that the FTSE 100 lost 2,1% at 4 981,06, firmly in the red with investors fearing that European banks are the next shoe dropping. Bradford & Bingley, Fortis and Hypo Real Estate are the latest to be bailed out, while Dexia becomes the next focus of capital worries. ICAP fell 12%, Royal Bank of Scotland lost 11% and HBOS was down 7,4%.
Meanwhile, with the US rescue package progressing, one trader says doubts that it will be successful remain, adding that if the government succumbs to taxpayer demands that assets be bought at bottom levels, “it could trigger more asset writedowns by the holders”.
In local markets, Anglo American lost R15,87, or 5,33%, to R282 with rival BHP Billiton falling R15,46, or 7,51%, to R190,51.
Sasol fell R16,50, or 4,52%, to R348,50.
Gold miner Harmony was down R4,35, or 5,12%, to R80,65, AngloGold was down R8,01, or 4,01%, to R191,99, and Gold Fields lost R1,37, or 1,72%, to R78,35.
Platinum miner Anglo Platinum lost R29, or 3,79%, to R737 and Lonmin fell R34,91, or 9,37%, to R337,59.
In other mining sectors, Kumba Iron Ore was down R10, or 5,08%, to R187 and African Rainbow Minerals lost R2,20, or 1,24%, to R174,80.
Among financials, Old Mutual lost 69 cents, or 5,63%, to R11,56 and Sanlam gave up 22 cents, or 1,26%, to R17,26.
In the banking sector, Nedbank was down R2,99, or 2,90%, to R100,01, FirstRand lost 47 cents, or 2,80%, to R16,33 and Absa fell R3, or 2,75%, to R106.
Elsewhere on the JSE, brewer SABMiller was down R4,66, or 2,81%, to R161,05, Richemont lost R1,39, or 3,63%, to R36,95 and Remgro was down R3,18, or 1,73%, to R181,02.
In the news, industrial services group Bidvest fell R4,49, or 4,18%, to R103, and packaging group Nampak lost 39 cents, or 2,62%, to R14,51.
Telecommunications group MTN was down 19 cents to R105,31 while Telkom lost 50 cents to R108.
Industrial group AECI was down 69 cents, or 1,10%, to R62,31. Earlier in the day the group announced that after much discussion with the consortium that had planned to purchase the nylon light decitex business of SANS Fibres, the parties had agreed that under the present circumstances the envisaged transaction was no longer feasible.
Pulp and paper producer Sappi lost 21 cents to R81,29. On Monday the group announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire the coated graphic paper business of M-real for €750-million. — I-net Bridge