The JSE was flat by midday on Friday in what a local equities trader said was a quiet session with the strong rand limiting moves on the local bourse.
The JSE all-share index was flat, down 0,01%. Resources weakened 0,25% but gold miners added 1,84% and platinum counters edged up 0,39%.
Banks were flat, down 0,04%, as were financials, up 0,07% while industrials edged up 0,12%.
The rand was last bid at 8,91 to the dollar, from 8,91 when the JSE closed on Thursday. Gold was quoted at $871,58/oz a troy ounce from $878,28/oz at the JSE’s last close, and platinum was at $1 212/oz
from its previous close of $1 201,50/oz.
“We’re flat, there is not much happening out there. The UK has also turned negative,” the trader said.
“Once again the strong rand is keeping the market from gaining. The Dow was higher last night, but our market is just not moving.
“US company earnings have been better than analysts had expected and that has kept the world market momentum going.
“The gold index is up despite the strong rand and the weaker price. That is what we have seen in the market lately — that when equities are down, gold moves up. I would still keep away from these gold stocks because as the market recovers they will retreat. But at the moment short-term investors are coming in at these low levels,” he said.
Dow Jones Newswires reports that the FTSE 100 was unable to stay positive in a lacklustre session so far, with little economic data on Friday to push the index higher, said traders.
“Upside in the short term seems limited, but any more positive comments from General Electric later this morning could give the market another boost to end the week on a positive note,” a trader added.
Telecoms advance after Morgan Stanley reiterates its overweight stance on Vodafone; BT Group +6,8% and Vodafone +1,5%. Another trader adds the market will be looking out for Citigroup’s figures later in the session “to see if we can hit three out of three”.
The FTSE 100 was last flat, up 0,33%.
US stocks are expected to open lower, as investors take a breather from the rally. However, pre-open announcements from Citigroup and General Electric may give clearer direction, said David Morrison, strategist at GFT.
He called the DJIA to open down 50 points at 8 075, and the S&P 500 down 5,3 at 860. “While bulls continue to insist that stocks offer value, some market participants are warning that the rally is looking increasingly fragile the higher it goes,” he added.
On the JSE, Anglo American lost R4,72, or 2,50%, to R183,98 and BHP Billiton was off R1 to R183,50.
Petrochemicals group Sasol added R3,66, or 1,37%, to R271,66.
Kumba Iron Ore gained R2,07, or 1,24%, to R169,07 and Highveld Steel was up R1, or 1,45%, to R70, but ArcelorMittal lost R1,29, or 1,47%, to R86,71.
Gold miner Gold Fields firmed R2,90, or 3,05%, to R98 and Harmony was up R2, or 2,53%, to R81.
Among platinum miners, Lonmin rose R5,58, or 3,17%, to R181,58.
In diversified miners, African Rainbow was up R2,06, or 1,79%, to R117.
Elsewhere on the JSE, brewer SABMiller eased 91 cents to R142,59 and British American Tobacco shed R4,03, or 1,92%, to R205,77.
However, Imperial put on R1,59, or 2,94%, to R55,64.
Among banks, Absa gave up R1,20, or 1,16%, to R102,55 but FirstRand was up 16 cents, or 1,21%, to R13,36.
Financial services group Old Mutual was up nine cents, or 1,12%, to R8,14 but Sanlam weakened 80 cents, or 4,71%, to R16,20.
Sugar group Illovo gained 95 cents, or 3,79%, to R26.
Among retailers, Woolies was up 47 cents, or 3,83%, to R12,75, Spar gained 65 cents, or 1,19%, to R55,15 and Foschini put on 70 cents, or 1,49%, to R47,70, but Nu Clicks weakened 16 cents, or 1,04%, to R15,24.
Construction group Group Five was off 45 cents, or 1,58%, to R28,05 and WBHO lost R2,49, or 2,68%, to R90,51.
Cement manufacturer Pretoria Portland Cement rose R1,17, or 3,61%, to R33,60.
Telecommunications group MTN Group was down 30 cents to R105,60 but Telkom gained R3,40, or 3,25%, to R107,90. — I-Net Bridge