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/ 7 February 2008

Platinum-share rally fails to prop up JSE

Platinum-mining stocks continued to shine brightly on the JSE by midday on Thursday, but even this dose of positive news failed to keep the bourse in the black as a slow European market weighed. By noon, the broader all-share index had slipped 0,02% into the red. Banks dropped 1,07% and financials gave up 0,47%, while industrials pulled back 0,83%.

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/ 5 February 2008

JSE down on profit-taking, world markets

The JSE changed course to turn negative by midday on Tuesday as weaker world markets and a bit of local profit -taking set in. By noon, the broader all-share index had given up 0,99%. Banks pulled back 2,39% and financials retreated 1,87%. Industrials lost 1,08% and the gold-mining index dipped 0,95%.

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/ 4 February 2008

Banks, world markets enliven JSE

The JSE had been lifted into the black by noon on Monday as firmer world markets and advances in the bank sector helped enliven the bourse after its soft opening. By noon, the broader all-share index had gained 0,92% to 29 016,26 points. Banks perked up 2%, while financials advanced 1,63% and industrials collected 1,66%.

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/ 31 January 2008

JSE firm, weaker rand drives miners

A weaker rand drove mining shares higher on the JSE by midday on Thursday, lifting the bourse 0,88% into the black. By noon, the platinum-mining index was 2,74% higher, while the gold-mining index advanced 2,36% and resources were up 2,04%. Industrials edged up 0,16%, but financials and banks were off 0,66% and 1,24% respectively.

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/ 30 January 2008

JSE boosted by miners, ignores CPI

The JSE ignored CPI data that came in slightly higher than market expectations and continued to gather momentum by midday on Wednesday on news that power had been restored to the mining industry. December CPI came in at 9% year-on-year, while the market expected 8,9%, and CPIX came in at 8,6%, against the expected 8,5%.

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/ 29 January 2008

Prepare for a month of load-shedding

South Africans can expect current load-shedding by Eskom to continue, if not worsen, for at least the next four weeks. Eskom, which met major industrial customers and the six metro mayors on Tuesday, proposed a three-phase recovery period that would include load-shedding, at least in the initial phase.

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/ 29 January 2008

Platinum shares boost JSE

Positive sentiment flowing through from world markets and a boost from the platinum mining sector helped support the JSE on Tuesday. Speculation that mines could return to production after operations had been halted the last few days because of power supply concerns, underpinned the rally in the mining and resources sector.

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/ 28 January 2008

Mining losses could hit GDP by R5,6bn

South Africa’s mining industry could lose up to R9,2-billion in revenue and the country’s GDP could take a knock of up to R5,6-billion as a result of the power restrictions imposed on mines by Eskom last week. T-Sec economist Mike Schussler estimates that the mining industry is losing about R330-million in revenues a day.

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/ 28 January 2008

JSE weak on world markets, local woes

A pull back in global equity markets as well as local concerns about power-supply shortages continued to keep the JSE at weak levels by midday on Monday. By noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index was down 2,79%. Banks pulled back 3,89% and financials were off 2,55%. The platinum-mining index gave up 3,65% and the gold-mining index weakened 1,11%.

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/ 28 January 2008

Mines hope to resume output later this week

South African mining companies hope to resume production later this week after being allowed to carry out underground maintenance work in mines across the country that have been crippled by a power crisis. Analysts estimated that hundreds of millions of rand had already been lost as the halt on mining entered its fourth day on Monday.

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/ 27 January 2008

Power crisis halts SA mines for a second day

A power shortage halted production in South Africa’s lucrative mining sector for a second day on Saturday, and mining company officials said they still did not know when they could resume operations. Power cuts described by President Thabo Mbeki’s government as a national emergency on Friday stopped production in the world’s biggest platinum and number one two gold producer.

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/ 24 January 2008

Bargain hunting lifts JSE

Bargain hunting among global equity markets underpinned a solid performance on the JSE on Thursday, lifting it by 3,3% at noon. By the same time, resources had collected 4,74%, the platinum-mining index advanced 5,1% and the gold-mining index added 1,51%. Industrials perked up 2,25%, financials gained 2,2% and banks were 2,07% higher.

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/ 23 January 2008

JSE up slightly, tracks FTSE

The JSE was only 0,42% in the black in midday trade on Wednesday, having pulled back after being up sharply earlier, as it started to track the FTSE and negative Dow futures, according to a trader. By 12.18pm, resources gained 1,11% and the platinum-mining index added 0,17%, but the gold-mining index was off 0,76%. Financials climbed 1,01% and banks edged up 0,11%.

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/ 22 January 2008

Banks help pare JSE losses

The JSE was down only 0,83% at noon on Tuesday, as buying interest among banks helped it recover from sharp losses of over 4% in the morning session. By noon, the platinum mining index fell 2,27%, resources were down 1,72%, and the gold mining index pulled back 1,47%.

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/ 17 January 2008

Weaker Anglo, BHP Billiton soften JSE

Resource heavyweights Anglo American and BHP Billiton forced the JSE to turn around from its positive start, dragging it lower by midday on Thursday. At noon, the broader all-share index shed 0,44% as resources lost 2,07%. The platinum- and gold-mining indices pulled back 1,14% and 0,27% respectively.

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/ 16 January 2008

JSE, world markets sharply lower

The JSE remained sharply weaker by midday on Wednesday, in line with other world markets, which were also experiencing a bumpy ride. At noon, the JSE’s all-share index was 2,97% in the red. The gold- and platinum-mining indices slumped 4,09% and 4,07% respectively, while resources were off 3,27%.

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/ 15 January 2008

JSE slightly down

Lower gold-mining stocks as a result of profit-taking weighed on the JSE on Tuesday, leaving the bourse 0,31% in the red by midday. At noon, the gold-mining index had pulled back 2,51%, but the platinum-mining index was 0,49% firmer, while resources added 0,54%. Industrials gave up 1,16%, banks lost 0,88% and financials were off 0,76%.

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/ 10 January 2008

JSE under pressure, eyes Europe

The JSE was under pressure by midday on Thursday as investors were uncertain about the outcome for European markets ahead of the European Central Bank and Bank of England interest-rate decisions later in the day. By noon, the broader all-share index had pulled back 0,49%. The gold-mining index gave up 1,12%, while resources were a slight 0,01% in the red.

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/ 8 January 2008

JSE recovers as miners get boost

The JSE was firmer by midday on Tuesday as a weaker United States dollar helped precious metals boost mining stocks on the bourse. By noon, the broader all-share index was 0,57% better, led by a 1,74% climb in the gold-mining index. The platinum-mining index gained 1,4% and resources added 1,17%.

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/ 7 January 2008

Positive US futures help JSE recover

An indication from positive United States futures that a battered Wall Street could open firmer on Monday, led to a slight recovery on the JSE by noon. The JSE was down over 1,5% in the morning session on concerns that the US market could go into a recession after job numbers came out worse than expected on Friday.

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/ 2 January 2008

JSE extends gains, volumes thin

South African stocks were sharply higher at noon on the first trading day of 2008, but volumes remained low as most traders are still on their festive-season break. By noon on the JSE, the all-share index was 1,05% higher. Resources added 1,24%, the platinum-mining index was up 1,88% but the gold-mining index was flat.

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/ 28 December 2007

JSE down, but off earlier lows

The JSE had recovered some of its earlier losses by midday on Friday, but was still over half a percent in the red. It had been down as much as 0,93% for the day. By noon on the JSE, the all-share index was 0,55% lower. The gold- and platinum-mining indices pulled back 2,42% and 1,17% respectively, while resources lost 0,46%.

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/ 24 December 2007

Gold miners add to Christmas cheer

The gold mining index added some cheer to the JSE ahead of Christmas celebrations, helping the bourse to close 0,59% firmer on Monday. The JSE closed at midday ahead of the two-day Christmas holiday and will reopen on Thursday. The gold mining index ended 2,95% higher, while resources added 0,81% and the platinum mining index recovered 0,62%.

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/ 21 December 2007

World markets up, JSE extends gains

The JSE extended its gains by midday on Friday as firmer world markets continued to direct it higher. By 12.02pm, the JSE’s all-share index had collected 1,95%, led by a 2,95% advance in the platinum mining index. Resources added 2,73% and the gold mining index rose 1,83%.

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/ 20 December 2007

JSE firm ahead of futures close-out

The JSE continued on its upward path by midday on Thursday, unaffected by surprisingly better PPI data but encouraged by the futures market close-out. By 1158am, the JSE’s all-share index had improved 0,83%. The platinum mining index climbed 3%, and the gold mining index added 0,94%,

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/ 14 December 2007

JSE softer as banks fall on concerns

A weaker bank sector forced a positive JSE to pull back into the red by midday on Friday, leaving the all-share index 0,14% lower at noon. The JSE’s bank index was down 1,38% at midday as local and international traders questioned whether the move by the central banks to inject liquidity into financial markets was enough to settle global credit concerns.

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/ 4 December 2007

NUM strike takes off, cuts output

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) launched a one-day strike on Tuesday to protest against deaths in the country’s mines, disrupting operations across the world’s top producer of platinum and gold. Almost a quarter of a million union members were set to down tools in the first industry-wide strike on safety, as the death toll mounted to about 200.

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/ 4 December 2007

Anglo, Billiton still weigh on JSE

Resource heavyweights Anglo American and BHP Billiton continued to weigh on the JSE in midday trade on Tuesday, with the all-share pulling back almost half a percent from its earlier levels. By midday, the JSE all-share index dropped 0,69% as resources gave up 0,96%. The gold-mining index shed 0,12% but the platinum-mining index improved 0,42%. Industrials lost 0,53%.

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/ 4 December 2007

NUM starts national safety strike

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) launched a one-day national strike on Tuesday to protest against deaths in the country’s mines, disrupting operations across the world’s top producer of platinum and gold. Almost a quarter of a million NUM members are expected to down tools in the first industry-wide strike on safety.