South African stocks slipped into the red on Friday morning, pressured mainly by weaker resources and
commodity stocks.
The uncertainty and nervousness ahead of the US financial bailout decision was still a factor in the market, and buyers are reluctant to take on any stocks.
“Markets are down and that is on resources and commodities. Commodities are still trying to find their feet,” said a trader. “The weaker rand is not really helping commodity stocks much.”
“People are just focused on squaring up their positions ahead of the weekend,” added the trader.
Traders pointed out that volatility in the market would be a factor until the outcome of the US bailout is known.
At 12.05pm, the all-share index was 0,61% lower and resources fell 0,98%.
Platinum and gold stocks lost 4,24% and 1,41% respectively. Industrials were down 0,25%, financials gave up 0,38% and banks shed 1,20%.
The rand was bid at 8,50 to the dollar from 8,48 when the JSE closed on Thursday, while gold was last quoted at $838,25 a troy ounce from $835,85 when the JSE last closed.
Platinum was trading at $961/oz, from a previous close of $964,50/oz.
Brent crude was at $90,84 per barrel, from its previous close of $90,56.
Dow Jones Newswires reports that the FTSE 100 lost 0,5% at 4 841,9, after weak UK September PMI services data shows a fall to 46 in September versus market expectations of 48,5. “The data came in weaker than expectations, and it does push us into rate-cut territory,” says an economist. He thinks the
likelihood for a rate cut is higher next Thursday, when the BOE meets, noting that at least four votes could signal a cut. Investors remain nervous over the US House’s vote on the rescue package on Friday.
US stock futures pointed to a brighter end to a grim week, with the House of Representatives set to vote again on a $700-billion bailout package and data set for release on how many jobs were lost in the US
economy last month. S&P 500 futures rose 5,90 points to 1 130,30 and Nasdaq 100 futures added 6,5 points to 1 517. Dow industrial futures rose 43 points.
In local markets, Anglo American fell R5,50, or 2,13%, to R253 while BHP Billiton gained R3,12, or 1,86%, to R170,73.
Paper giant Sappi lost R2,05, or 2,73%, to R73,15.
Sasol fell R2,78 to R311,52.
Among gold miners AngloGold lost R2,38, or 1,39%, to R168,62 and Gold Fields fell R2,15, or 3,06%, to R68,10.
Platinum miner Anglo Platinum dropped R26,50, or 3,75%, to R680, Lonmin lost R10,68, or 4,16%, to R246,32 and Impala Platinum gave up R7,15, or 4,86%, to R139,85.
In other miners African Rainbow Minerals lost R4,01 or 2,44%, to R160 and Exxaro gave up R6,31, or 7,96%, to R72,99.
Kumba Iron Ore lost 40 cents to R175,20. The iron ore producer earlier today announced the conclusion of benchmark price negotiations for the 2008/09 iron ore year, well aligned with leading settlements reached earlier by other iron ore producers.
Among banks Standard Bank lost R1,89, or 2,17%, to R85,01 and FirstRand gave up 16 cents to R16,10.
Investec gained R1, or 2,08%, to R49 and RMB Holdings was up 44 cents, or 1,77%, to R25,24.
Elsewhere on the JSE, brewer SABMiller was up 60 cents to R152,60; Barloworld fell R1, or 1,59%, to R62 while Remgro gained R3,98, or 2,20%, to R184,98.
Telecommunications group MTN remained unchanged at R110 while Telkom gained R2,10, or 1,95%, to R109,60.
In the news PPC lost 14 cents to R30,01. The cement maker announced today that its R1,4-million rand Batswaledi expansion project at Dwaalboom has started production. The group added that the new 1,25 million tonne per annum kiln was fired up last weekend and has successfully produced its first product this week. The company also noted that the project is within the R1,4-billion budget. – I-Net Bridge