Lesotho needs ,9-million to help feed more than a third of its population after the country’s crop was destroyed by a prolonged dry spell during the 2006/07 cropping season, the United Nations said on Tuesday. About 550 000 people out of 1,8-million in Lesotho will need food aid between now and the next harvest in May next year, the UN said.
Stocks rose slightly at midday on Monday, reversing earlier losses, but overall trading was muted ahead of another wave of corporate earnings reports and inflation data later in the week. At noon, the all-share index was up just 0,09%, thanks to a 1,06% gain in the platinum-mining index.
The JSE was slightly higher at noon on Thursday as miners gained on sustained strength in precious metals with banks in focus on vague talk that Standard Chartered Bank might make a buy-out offer for Nedbank. At midday, the all-share index was up 0,32%. Resources gained 0,48% and the gold- and platinum-mining indices added 0,57% and 1,75% respectively.
The JSE remained lower at noon Wednesday in tandem with overseas markets but miners managed modest gains amid better precious metal prices and concerns over wage talks. At noon the all-share index off 0,70%. Resources fell 0,99%, but the gold and platinum mining indices edged up 0,31% and 0,26% respectively.
The JSE retained its strong tone at midday on Friday, marching towards the historic 30 000 level following a record-breaking performance on Wall Street overnight. At 12.02pm, the all-share index was up 0,68% at 29 992,470. Resources gained 0,38%, the gold-mining index added 0,57% but the platinum-mining index fell 0,39%.
The JSE was slightly higher at noon on Thursday lifted by heavyweight miners with mergers and acquisitions news in focus after global resource giant Rio Tinto offered to buy Alcan. At 12.02pm, the all-share index was up 0,17%. Resources gained 0,41% and the gold-mining index gained by the same margin.
The JSE extended gains at noon on Monday paced by miners on better metal prices, while banks rose on talks that the local monetary authorities were unlikely to raise interest rates. At 11.58am, the all-share index was up 1,10%. Resources gained 1,17%, the gold and platinum mining indices surged 1,35% and 2%.
The JSE remained under pressure at noon on Wednesday as weaker metal prices weighed on heavily weighted resource stocks, while investors digested the slightly above forecast inflation data. At noon, the all-share index was off 1,37%. Resources gave up 2,38% and the gold- and platinum-mining indices were down 0,84% and 1,69% respectively.
The JSE remained lower across the board at noon on Monday on inflation worries ahead of data releases later in the week. Weaker overseas markets — after a sharp fall in New York on Friday — added to the bearish undertone. At noon, the all-share index was off 0,72%. Resources fell 0,76%, the gold- and platinum-mining indices gave up 0,25% and 0,99% respectively.
The JSE was higher at noon on Thursday, shrugging off a negative tone on overseas markets as investors piled in ahead of a futures close-out later in the day. However, traders said the local bourse was expected to follow overseas markets weaker after the close-out, which started at 12pm.