South African stocks pulled back from modest gains achieved in early deals to trade flat at noon on Monday, as traders struggled to find a clear-cut path. At midday, the JSE’s broader all-share index was neither here nor there (+0,06%) at 32 154,700. Resources were up 0,20%, while the gold- and platinum-mining indices added 0,53% and 0,22% respectively.
After opening firmer on Friday morning, the JSE had given up its gains by midday and was trading 125 points in the red. A local trader said that after the all-share index posted an all-time high of 32 440,9 earlier, the market saw some profit-taking, particularly in the resources stocks.
Resources stocks were the main feature of the JSE by midday on Thursday, with the overall market generally flat following an overnight decline on Wall Street. At 11.56am, the JSE’s broader all-share index was up 0,12%, helped by a 1,1% rise in resources, 0,89% advance in the gold mining index and a 0,39% rise in the platinum mining index.
South African stocks were mixed in early afternoon trade on Wednesday due to volatility, but the feature of the morning session was a strong gain by synthetic fuel producer Sasol. At 12.25pm, the JSE’s broader all-share index was up 0,09%, with the industrial index up 0,88%, but resources were down 0,38%.
South African stocks remained higher at noon on Tuesday, supported by miners on stronger metal prices, but shaky overseas markets and stronger rand limited the upside move, traders said. Local mobile phone firm MTN Group remained the most heavily traded stock by value after it confirmed that it was in share price-sensitive talks with an Indian firm.
South African stocks were sharply higher at noon on Monday, led by miners on stronger metal prices, while easing United States economic concerns added to the upbeat mood. Local cellphone firm MTN Group was in focus again on ongoing speculation that an Indian firm might launch a takeover bid for the company, traders said.
South African stocks were weaker at noon on Wednesday with miners under pressure on retreating metal prices, but the session was quiet as most traders are still away on a long weekend break. At noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index was down 0,46%, with the gold and platinum mining indices down 1,47% and 1,65% respectively.
The JSE was weaker in quiet trade at midday, weighed down by a firmer rand, lower metal prices and what was described as a disappointing production report from Anglo American. South African markets were closed on Monday for a holiday and are also closed on Thursday and Friday this week, with many players away for the two days in between.
South African stocks were mixed in a thin-volume session by noon on Friday, with MTN in focus on vague newspaper reports that an Indian firm might launch a takeover bid for the local mobile telecoms firm, traders said. By midday the JSE’s broader all-share index was down 0,14%. Resources fell 1,27%.
The JSE was sharply weaker at noon on Thursday, led by banks after worse-than-expected factory-gate price inflation data pretty much sealed the case for another interest-rate hike in June, traders said. By 11.54am the JSE’s broader all-share index was down 0,96%, weighed by a 1,99% drop in banks.
The JSE remained in the black at midday on Wednesday thanks to firm resources stocks, but banks and financials were under a bit of pressure. By 11.54am the JSE’s broader all-share index was up 0,34%. Resources added 1,01%, but the platinum-mining index, after having being stronger earlier, was now off 0,52% and the gold-mining index was down 1,14%.
Global resources giant BHP Billiton announced on Wednesday that it has secured a significant long-term gas-supply agreement with a leading Australian energy company, Origin Energy, to supply gas to south-eastern Australia. The supply of gas will commence in late 2009.
South African stocks were little changed at noon on Tuesday in a thin-volume session, as some traders remained on the sidelines ahead of Wall Street opening. At midday the all-share index was neither here nor there (-0,06%) at 31 754,380. Resources were up 0,50% but the gold- and platinum-mining indices were down 0,16% and 1,63% respectively.
South African stocks hung on to earlier gains at noon on Monday, supported by firmer overseas markets, but the stronger rand and faltering gold prices restricted gains, traders said. By midday on Monday, the JSE’s broader all-share index was 0,77% in the black. Resources were up 1,21%, the platinum-mining index advanced 0,34% but the gold-mining index fell 0,70%.
The JSE remained firm by midday on Friday, with a trader saying that the market was consolidating after hitting record levels earlier this week. Starting from Wednesday, the bourse had two consecutive days of hitting all-time highs, but failed to close at its record peak of 32 130,75 points.
The JSE was trading just off its new record high by midday on Thursday as world markets and resources continued to add support. In the morning session, the bourse broke through Wednesday’s record and hit a fresh high of 32 127.051 points. By midday, the all-share index had gained 0,8% to 32,112,15 points.
BHP Billiton has suspended all underground operations at its Khuthala Colliery following the death of one of its workers earlier this week, the company said on Thursday. South Africa’s National Union of Mineworkers said on Tuesday that a worker had died at the world’s biggest miner’s Khuthala Colliery, near Witbank, east of Johannesburg, after a fall of ground.
The JSE kept toying with an all-time high by midday on Wednesday as resources continued to fuel the bourse. By noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index had risen 1,02% to 31 600,360 points. It reached an intra-day high of 31 700,350 points earlier, just off its all time high of 31 728,180 points hit in October last year.
Resource counters were buoyed by higher commodity prices on Tuesday, which continued to keep the JSE firm by midday trade. By 11.56am, the JSE’s broader all-share index had lifted 0,64%. The platinum-mining index advanced 2,41%, resources collected 1,26% and the gold-mining index was up 0,55%.
World markets were dampened by negative earnings reports from the United States on Monday, causing the JSE to pull back sharply. By midday, the JSE’s broader all-share index had fallen 1,48%. The banking index pulled back 2,51% and financials retreated 1,41%.
Firmer global equities started to give the JSE support during the morning session on Friday, lifting the broader all-share index 0,91% by noon. Traders said that resource counters were also underpinning gains in the Alsi. By midday, the JSE’s resources index collected 1,59%. The platinum-mining index strengthened 3,07% and the gold-mining index advanced 1,25%.
The JSE remained quiet by midday on Thursday as investors waited anxiously for the local monetary policy committee’s (MPC) rate decision at about 3pm. The consensus is for an unchanged repo rate at 11%, according to a survey of leading economists.
Talk of China’s interest in a stake in BHP Billiton has sent the resources index northward and, in turn, helped the JSE advance further by midday on Wednesday. Dow Jones newswires said that the <i>Australian</i> reported in its Wednesday edition China is in the early stages of planning to buy a stake in miner BHP Billiton.
Resources continued to gain momentum from the morning trade session, driving the JSE further into positive territory by midday on Monday. By noon the JSE’s broader all-share index had advanced 1,72% as resources were up 2,92%. The platinum-mining index climbed 0,94% while the gold-mining index edged up 0,04%.
Resource heavyweights Anglo American and BHP Billiton — which make up a substantial portion of the JSE — helped the bourse extend its gains by midday on Friday, traders said. By noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index had lifted 1,21%. Resources collected 1,83%, and the platinum mining index was up 0,8%, but the gold mining index decreased 1,34%.
The JSE remained firm by midday on Thursday, but with very light volumes being traded as investors remained edgy ahead of the rates announcement next week, a dealer said. By midday, the JSE’s broader all-share index had gained 0,53%. Resources were up 1,08%, the platinum-mining index lifted 1% and the gold-mining index added 0,92%.
Strong closes on Wall Street overnight and on Asian markets on Wednesday morning, led by financial stocks, have inspired similar local counters to extend earlier gains. By noon on Wednesday, the JSE’s broader all-share index had gained 1,14%, as banks advanced 3,4%.
The JSE was looking lifeless at midday on Tuesday, as there was no real driver to push the market in either direction, traders said. By 11.59am, the JSE’s broader all-share index had shed 0,1%. The gold mining index dropped 3,14%, resources fell 1,48% and the platinum mining index declined 0,55%.
Mining group BHP Billiton will phase out annual business with Standard Bank in the first corporate spat brought on by the power crisis. Business Day reported that the business may be worth R2,4-billion and the decision came after a bank executive suggested that one of the mining group’s aluminium smelters be shut down to save electricity.
A recovery in the platinum price triggered improvements in the platinum-mining and resources indices, which helped reverse the JSE’s morning losses and lift it into the black by midday on Friday. By 12.03pm, the JSE’s broader all-share index was up 0,35%. The platinum-mining index collected 1,57% and resources gained 1%.
Commodity counters and positive Dow futures kept the JSE firm by midday on Thursday, with platinum counters leading the gains, traders said. At noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index was up 1%. The platinum mining index advanced 2,89%, resources climbed 1,89% and the gold mining index was up 1,59%.
Mining counters gave the JSE some extra momentum on Wednesday, pushing the bourse more than a percent higher by midday. At noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index was 1,29% in the black, driven by a 5,45% rally in the platinum-mining index. Resources advanced 2,47% and the gold-mining index rose 1,07%.