The JSE slipped into negative territory by midday on Thursday with resources leading the downside as participants sought to square positions and take profits ahead of this afternoon’s interest rate decision.
The all-share index was down 1,17%, resources lost 1,13% but gold stocks were up 1,32% and platinum stocks added 0,89%.
Banks were off 2,59%, financials gave up 1,75% and industrials eased 0,85%.
The rand was last bid at R10,16 to the dollar from R10,17 when the JSE closed on Wednesday, while gold was last quoted at $822,50 a troy ounce from $803,45/oz at the JSE’s last close.
The platinum price was at $844,50/oz, up 2,12% from its previous close of $827/oz and Brent crude was at $43,14 per barrel from $42,40 before.
“Resources are leading the downside. After the recent rallies they are probably just taking a breather,” an equities trader said.
“It might be a case of position-squaring and profit-taking ahead of the decision later today,” he said.
“At the moment Dow futures are down, signalling a weaker opening in the US this afternoon,” he pointed out.
He added that the rand was fairly stable and that should the dollar continue to weaken, we may see further strengthening of the rand.
While the outcome of the week’s Monetary Policy Committee meeting is likely to be a close call, the consensus is for South Africa’s repo rate to be cut by 50 basis points to 11,5%, a survey of leading economists shows.
Of the 16 economists polled, nine are expecting a 50-basis-point reduction, while two are expecting a cut of 100 basis points.
Five economists spoken to expect rates to remain unchanged.
Earlier, the Nikkei up 0,7% but the Hang Seng was last down 0,4%.
Dow Jones Newswires reports that European stocks headed south, dragged lower by mining stocks as base metals prices fall back again on slowing demand from China.
In London, the FTSE was last down 0,30%.
US stocks are seen falling at the open with expectations of another choppy session, says Marko Jagustin, trader at GFT Global Markets.
He calls the DJIA to open down 75 points and the S&P 500 down 9,5 points.
On the JSE, resources giant Anglo American lost R4,95, or 2,15%, to R225,55 and BHP Billiton gave up R4,95, or 2,62%, to R184.
Petrochemicals group Sasol eased 63 cents to R299.
ArcelorMittal was down 35 cents to R87,65 but Kumba Iron Ore gained R1 to R158.
Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti rose R8,31, or 3,07%, to R279,31, Gold Fields was up 70 cents to R91,70 but Harmony was down R2, or 1,96%, to R100.
Anglo Platinum firmed R5, or 1,10%, to R460, Impala Platinum added 85 cents to R121,85 and Lonmin collected R7,02, or 7,02%, to R107.
Elsewhere on the JSE, brewer SABMiller eased 97 cents to R168,25 and Remgro gave up R1,47, or 2,03%, to R71,03, Barloworld gave up 76 cents, or 1,65%, to R45,24 and Bidvest weakened R4,25, or 4,13%, to R98,75.
Among banks Standard Bank was down R2,69, or 3,22%, to R80,80, Nedbank was off 45 cents to R91,55, Absa lost R2,50, or 2,22%, to R110 and FirstRand gave up 30 cents, or 1,88%, to R15,70.
Retailer Woolworths was up 16 cents, or 1,32%, to R12,26, Lewis added 84 cents, or 1,86%, to R46,04 and Pick ‘n Pay was up 36 cents, or 1,06%, to R34,35.
It was earlier announced that both the retailer and property group Growthpoint Properties had been added to the JSE’s Top 40 index of blue chip companies, replacing construction firms Murray & Roberts and Aveng.
Construction group Murray & Roberts was up R1,85, or 4,20%, to R45,85, Pretoria Portland Cement lost 78 cents, or 2,52%, to R30,20 and WBHO was up R5,15, or 5,26%, to R103,15.
The group announced earlier that it expects headline earnings per share for interim period to end December to between 70% and 90% higher than the same time a year ago.
Earnings per share for the period are expected to be between 80% and 90% higher.
MTN Group gave up R2,93, or 2,84%, to R100,06 and Telkom lost R3, or 2,59%, to R113. — I-Net Bridge