Alison Maltz

Unlisted South African retailer Shoprite on Wednesday announced that Brait, acting through Maxshell 107 Investments, has increased the offer to Shoprite minority shareholders to R28 per share. In terms of the revised offer, Shoprite shareholders will receive one New Retail Class B share valued at R28 for every Shoprite share held.

The JSE reversed Thursday’s gains on Friday morning following a pullback in commodity prices. Softer world markets also weighed. By 11.57am, the all-share index slipped 1,02%. Resources retreated 1,04%, with the gold- and platinum-mining indices losing 1,53% and 1,35% respectively. Industrials weakened 0,92%, financials fell 1,22% and the banks index was 1,47% in the red.

The JSE was in positive territory in noon trade on Thursday buoyed by a bounce in commodity prices. Dealers said that the bourse would have been even stronger were it not for the firmer rand. By 11.52am, the all share index added 0,86%. Resources rallied 1,45%, the gold mining index jumped 1,68% and the platinum mining index picked up 0,98%.

The JSE was marginally firmer just after noon on Tuesday after a choppy morning session. While the market spiked to a new high just before the London opening, lack of direction from offshore and volatile metals prices were creating a lot of uncertainty. At 12.05pm, the all-share index was up 0,18% at 25 240,07 after touching a highest-ever level of 25 287,56.

The JSE was roaring ahead in noon trade on Friday fuelled by stronger world markets. Gains were widespread and advancers outnumbered decliners on the all share index by four to one. By 11.57am, the all share index added 1,05%. Industrials and financials firmed 0,99% and 0,73% respectively, while the banks index was 0,25% better.

The JSE was slightly weaker just after midday on Wednesday after a volatile morning on which the bourse had to contend with the opposing forces of weaker world markets and a softer rand. Trade was fairly brisk given the market’s uncertainty, with over R3,5-billion-worth of shares changing hands.

The JSE was a mixed bag just after midday on Monday following a quiet morning’s trade. While a weaker rand gave resources stocks a lift, uncertainty as to what the year held weighed on industrials and financials. By 12.04pm, the all-share index dipped 0,06%. Industrials lost 0,29% and financials fell 0,3%, while the banks index surrendered 0,73%.

After opening lower on continued profit-taking, the JSE bounced into the black on Friday morning buoyed by a sharply weaker rand. The recovery came despite weakness on Asian and European markets. By 11.53am, the all-share index added 0,46%. Industrials ticked up 0,20%. Financials were flattish (+0,03%) and the banks index climbed 0,14%.

The JSE was deluged with red in noon trade on Thursday as the profit-taking that pummelled the bourse on Wednesday continued. The situation was exacerbated by a sharp pullback in commodity prices. By 11.55am, the all-share index slipped 1,57%. Resources surrendered 2,77%, the gold-mining index slumped 3,46% and the platinum-mining index tumbled 2,42%.

The JSE was in negative territory in noon trade on Wednesday on profit-taking following Tuesday’s rally to a record high. Lower commodity prices also contributed to the JSE’s weakness. By 11.58am, the all-share and all-share industrial indices lost 1,45% and 1,19% respectively.

The JSE charted new territory on Tuesday morning when higher commodity prices and stronger Asian markets helped push it ahead on low volumes. Sentiment was positive and a stronger rand only tempered the bourse’s gains slightly. By 11.41am, the all-share index was up 0,78% at 25 110,72. It earlier touched a record high of 25 173,869.

The JSE continued its journey into record territory on Thursday morning, fuelled by buying related to the futures close-out, which got under way at noon. Trade was brisk with over R4-billion-worth of shares changing hands. By 12.01pm, the all-share index was up 0,71%.

The JSE roared to another record high on Wednesday morning, encouraged by stronger world markets and a higher gold price. The release of benign inflation data, which was seen as tempering the interest-rate outlook, gave retailers and banks a further boost.

The JSE was in positive territory just before noon on Friday, boosted by firmer world markets and basket buying ahead of next Thursday’s futures close-out. The market was extremely quiet, however, with only R1,5-billion-worth of shares changing hands. Bt 11.48am, the all-share index added 0,44%.

Interest-rate hikes locally are likely to make for a more stable rand going into the next year, analysts say. The carry trade, which involves borrowing in low yielding currencies and investing in high yielders, is expected to help the rand offset the negative effect that the imports need for South Africa’s increased infrastructural spending will have.

The JSE was weaker in noon trade on Tuesday, dragged down by derivatives-related activity ahead of next Thursday’s futures close-out. A stronger rand and soft commodity prices also contributed to the bourse’s soggy feel. By 11.59am, the all-share and all-share industrial indices shed 0,38% and 0,2% respectively.

The JSE was weaker in noon trade on Thursday as a stronger rand and lower commodities prices resulted in resources stocks feeling the pinch. Overall the market was quiet, marking time ahead of the Monetary Policy Committee announcement on interest rates.

After reaching a new closing high on Friday, the JSE lost ground at the opening on Monday in line with its global counterparts. Dealers said that uncertainty about the United States economy as well as Thursday’s interest rate decision locally are weighing on the bourse.

The rand came under pressure on Thursday afternoon on news that South Africa recorded a record trade deficit for October, bringing concerns of structural imbalances back to the fore. South Africa recorded a deficit of R12,943-billion for its trade with non-Southern African Customs Union trading partners in October, according to customs and excise figures released on Thursday.

The JSE remained in positive territory in noon trade on Thursday, having benefited from stronger world markets overnight. The market was fairly quiet with value traded failing to top the R2-billion mark. By 12.03pm, the all-share index added 0,6%. Resources rose 3,25%, the platinum-mining index jumped 3,25% and the gold-mining index gained 0,63%.

The JSE was marginally weaker in noon trade on Friday as negative European markets, on which heavyweight dual-listed stocks were down, took their toll. Losses locally were pared by a weaker rand and higher gold price. By 12.14pm, the all share index dipped 0,11%.

The JSE was weaker in noon trade on Thursday due to profit-taking following the bourse’s strong run earlier in the week. However, the Thanksgiving holidays in the United States and Japan made for a very quiet market. By 12.03pm, the all-share index slipped 0,55%. Resources retreated 1,19% and the gold-mining weakened 1,02%.

Positive sentiment towards equities took the JSE onto higher ground on Wednesday, with a lot of the buying coming from offshore. Platinum shares were under pressure, however, after the platinum price spiralled down to earth with a thud after rocketing to a record high on Tuesday.

Platinum stocks were setting the pace on the JSE just after noon on Tuesday after renewed talk of a platinum exchange-traded fund sent the metal to a record high. However, a stronger rand kept a bit of a lid on the local bourse. Platinum was last quoted at $1 390/oz from $1 249,50/oz when the JSE closed on Monday. It earlier touched a record high of $1 415,50/oz.

The JSE was looking to snap its three-day losing streak on Monday with a recovery in precious-metals prices lifting resources stocks. News was a little on the sparse side and dealers said that the market was quiet. By 11.48am, the all-share index added 0,65%. Resources rallied 1,51%, the platinum-mining index surged 4,04% and the gold-mining index jumped 2,82%.

The JSE was just managing to keep its head above water in noon trade on Wednesday after a choppy morning’s trade on which stronger world markets and lower precious metals prices vied for supremacy. By 12.03pm, the all-share index was up 0,08%. Industrials and financials climbed 0,29% and 0,47% respectively, but the banks index lost 0,51%.

After losing ground on Monday, the JSE was chugging along nicely in noon trade on Tuesday, driven by positive global markets. Advancers outnumbered decliners on the all-share index by more than two to one. By 12.02pm, the all-share and all-share indices had added 0,32% and 0,87% respectively.

A rally in precious metals provided the spark to take the JSE higher on Friday morning. However, profit-taking prevented the market from firing on all cylinders and the advance resembled more of a Sunday drive than a grand prix. By 11.58am, the all-share index added 0,36%.

The JSE was awash with red at noon on Thursday, knocked by a lower gold price and a firming in the rand from levels seen earlier in the day. Weakness in mining stocks offshore exacerbated the bourse’s losses. By midday, the all share index surrendered 0,57%.

The JSE reached yet another high on Monday morning, with Impala’s eight-for-one shares split sending platinum shares skywards. Positive world markets and a strong gold price gave the bourse added support. By 11.53am, the all share index was up 0,68% at 23 750,16 having touched a record level of 23 763,779.

The JSE was looking stodgy just after noon on Thursday after a dull morning’s trade. Dealers said that the market was largely directionless, although a firming of the rand from levels seen earlier in the session had seen some of the resources stocks retrace.

The JSE was roaring ahead in noon trade on Wednesday, fed by higher precious metals prices. Gains were seen across the board, however, and advancers outnumbered decliners on the all-share index by almost three to one. By 11.58am, the all-share index added 0,94%. Resources rallied 1,38%, the gold-mining index leaped 3,35% and the platinum-mining index perked up 1,97%.