The JSE remained in positive territory in “dull” trade by midday on Friday as market players await the release of jobless figures in the United States later in the day.
The JSE all-share index had edged up 0,13%, with resources easing 0,24% and gold miners giving up 1,36%. However, platinum counters firmed 1,07%.
Banks added 1,92% and financials put on 1,77%, but industrials eased 0,15%.
The rand was last bid at R9,67 to the dollar, from R9,68 when the JSE closed on Thursday, while gold was last quoted at $854,55 a troy ounce from $857,79/oz at the JSE’s last close.
Platinum was at $992/oz from its previous close of $990,50/oz and Brent crude was at $45,31 per barrel from a previous close of $44,67 per barrel.
“We are tracking sideways and waiting to see what will happen in the US with the jobless data,” a trader said.
“The rand is slightly weaker. Financials are the biggest movers and that is probably because they had been sold too much yesterday.”
Dow Jones Newswires reports that London’s top share index weakened on Friday, as a combination of jitters ahead of some key US jobs data and broker downgrades worked to keep stocks under pressure.
The FTSE was last down 0,54%.
On the JSE, Anglo American fell R10,32, or 4,34%, to R227,25 but BHP Billiton added R3,63, or 1,94%, to R190,75.
Petrochemicals giant Sasol was up R5,01, or 1,64%, to R311.
Paper group Sappi was off 70 cents, or 1,70%, to R40,50 but rival Mondi was up 70 cents, or 1,99%, to R35,90.
ArcelorMittal gained R2,14, or 2,30%, to R94,99 and Kumba Iron Ore rose R6,60, or 4,11%, to R167,10.
Gold miner AngloGold Ashanti lost R5,76, or 2,23%, to R252,94 and Gold Fields weakened R1,13, or 1,24%, to R89,85.
Platinum miner Anglo Platinum was R6, or 1,05%, weaker at R563 and Lonmin gave up R3,56, or 2,31%, to R150,74, but Impala Platinum rose R3,15, or 2,20%, to R146,05.
Among industrials, brewer SABMiller edged up 15 cents to R166,15, Barloworld added 95 cents, or 2,13%, to R45,65, Bidvest collected R1,49, or 1,44%, to R104,90 and British American Tobacco gained R8,55, or 3,26%, to R270,60.
However, Imperial lost R1, or 1,61%, to R61.
Banker Standard Bank was up R2,25, or 2,75%, to R84, Nedbank rose R1,82, or 1,92%, to R96,70, Absa added R1,50, or 1,43%, to R106,50 and FirstRand edged up 17 cents, or 1,10%, to R15,57.
Financial services group Old Mutual rose 46 cents, or 5,53%, to R8,78 and Sanlam added 20 cents, or 1,18%, to R17,20.
Among retailers, Truworths collected 73 cents, or 2,08%, to R35,88 while Shoprite lost 90 cents, or 1,61%, to R55,10.
Construction group Group Five was up 50 cents, or 1,37%, to R37, but property group Growthpoint lost 16 cents, or 1,05%, to R15,14.
Packaging group Nampak added 29 cents, or 2,14%, to R13,86.
MTN Group weakened R2,41, or 2,25%, to R104,84 but Telkom gained 23 cents to R114,23. — I-Net Bridge