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 Africa’s economic confidence fell to a five-and-a-half year low in April, weighed down by expectations of slower growth, higher inflation and a longer cycle of tighter monetary policy, a poll showed on Thursday. The monthly survey of 20 economists showed the Reuters Econometer dived to 207,50 last month, its lowest since November 2002.
After two dismal seasons on and off the field, the appearance of Amazulu among the last four clubs remaining in the Nedbank Cup represents a fragile chance to reclaim a tarnished legacy. Last season the lads from the coastal kingdom finished second last on the log, but escaped relegation from the Premiership by winning play-offs against rivals from the lower first division.
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 South African Reserve Bank warned on Thursday that high household debt was a potential source of vulnerability and the growth in non-performing loans must be closely monitored. Elevated and volatile oil prices could also impact on economic and financial stability through higher inflation, interest rates and on an already large current-account deficit, it said.
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%.
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%.
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%.
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.
South African banking group FirstRand on Friday said it was not in talks with a Chinese bank over selling a stake. ”We are not in discussions with a Chinese bank,” FirstRand spokesperson Sam Moss said. Shares in FirstRand rose earlier on Friday after the China Daily reported that a state-owned Chinese bank was in talks to buy a stake in First National Bank.
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%.
A major, but unidentified Chinese bank is in talks to buy a stake in South Africa’s second-largest lender First National Bank, a media report said on Friday. If carried out, the transaction will follow in the footsteps of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, which recently agreed to buy a 20% stake in Standard Bank.
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%.
South Africa’s producer price inflation (PPI) accelerated above forecasts to 11,2% year-on-year in February from 10,4% in January, official data showed on Thursday.
Statistics South Africa said the headline number, representing domestic output, stood at 1,3% on a monthly basis, compared with 1% previously. Economists polled last week forecast that annual PPI would come in at 10,7%, while the monthly rate of increase was seen at 0,8%.
Zambia has ended negotiations with Standard Bank, Africa’s largest bank by assets, to finance a $1,2-billion (R9,7-billion) oil-import deal after the two parties failed to reach agreement. Talks between the Zambian government and Stanbic Bank Zambia, a unit of Standard Bank, were initially expected to be concluded by mid-January.
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%.
Standard Bank has been selected as the best emerging-market bank in Africa, as well as in South Africa, in the annual <i>Global Finance</i> magazine’s <i>Best Emerging Market Banks in Africa</i> survey. In addition, Standard Bank Namibia and Stanbic Bank Uganda won top honours in their respective countries.
The JSE was little changed at its softer levels by midday on Tuesday as investors took to the sidelines ahead of the United States Federal Open Market Committee’s rates decision later in the day. By noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index was down 0,86%. Resources fell 2,26%, the gold mining index dropped 1,76% and the platinum mining index shed 0,76%.
Recent revelations on how the African National Congress used its investment arm Chancellor House to divert taxpayer’s money into its own coffers explains the ruling party’s obsession with black empowerment policy, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille said on Friday.
The resources index kept the JSE in firmer territory by midday on Friday, enhancing the morning session’s gains. At noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index was up 1%, driven by the 1,75% advance in the resources index. The gold mining index recovered 0,06% but the platinum mining index gave up 0,23%.
Gold rose to all-time high on Thursday as investor buying speeded up after the dollar sank and oil hovered near lifetime peaks. Gold rose to .70 an ounce before easing to trade at ,60/992,0 at 11.08am GMT, against ,90/982,70 late in New York on Wednesday.
South African stocks were slightly lower at noon on Tuesday, pressured by miners on faltering metal prices, but improved sentiment in overseas markets restricted losses, traders said. At noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index had given up 0,19% at 30 056,80.
About 60% to 70% of the South African home finance market is now facilitated by originators, who have managed to secure interest rate concessions of 1% to 2,5% for their clients. They handle the shopping around for you, as well as the administration and insurance.
International credit woes causing losses among overseas equity markets continued to dampen the JSE by midday on Friday. The JSE’s broader all share index had shed 0,45% by noon, which was led by a 2,5% decline in the bank index. Financials were down 1,86% and industrials gave up 0,57%.
Firm resource stocks helped the JSE extend its gains by midday on Thursday, even though bank and financial counters were softer. By noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index lifted 1,17%, led by a 1,94% advance in resources. The gold mining index recovered 0,98% while the platinum mining index edged up 0,04%.
The JSE widened its losses by midday on Wednesday as profit-taking and negative sentiment continued to dampen the market. By noon, the JSE’s broader all-share index declined 1,4%, led by a 2,72% pull back in the platinum-mining index. The gold-mining index retreated 2,71% and resources dipped 1,85%.