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%.
Consumer foods maker Pioneer Foods goes public on Tuesday April 22, with 400-million shares as part of its plans to raise capital, it said this week. Prior to the listing, the company will offer 20-million shares at R25 each in a rights offer intended to raise R500-million for its capital expenditure programme.
South African average house prices fell for the first time in eight years, pushing the March year-on-year inflation to a negative 5,2%, new data showed on Tuesday. The negative growth recorded for the month follows three straight months of flat growth and pushed the average house price to R550 000 from R570 000 last month.
Nearly half of South African private businesses say a lack of skills is the biggest constraint to business growth in this country, a new survey showed on Wednesday. This the second straight year that workforce issues have been cited as the greatest impediment to growth in the Grant Thornton annual <i>International Business Report</i>.
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.
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/ 26 February 2008
South African stocks were sharply higher at midday on Tuesday following in the footsteps of European markets, but a stronger rand restricted gains. Above-forecast economic growth data added to the positive sentiment. At 11.59am, the all-share index was up 1,22% at 30 176,680, thanks to a 3,08% gain in banks.
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/ 19 February 2008
The People’s Budget Coalition has reiterated its call for a basic income grant as part of its national budget wish list. Finance Minister Trevor Manuel tables the national budget on Wednesday. The coalition comprises the Congress of South African Trade Unions, South African National NGO Coalition and the South African Council of Churches.
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/ 18 February 2008
South African stocks were sharply higher at midday on Monday led by banks ahead of Absa’s year-end earnings, while stronger overseas markets and firm metal prices spurred broad-based gains, traders said. By noon, the broader all-share index had gained 1,27% to 28 867,61, lifted mainly by a 2,36% gain in banks.
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/ 13 February 2008
South African stocks were slightly lower at midday on Wednesday as heavily weighted miners continue to falter on falling metal prices, while other investors refrained from making any large moves ahead of Wall Street opening. At midday, the broader all-share index had was off 0,18% at 28 533,810.
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/ 12 February 2008
The JSE held on to gains at midday on Tuesday as investors chased after bargains following Monday’s sharp losses amid strong metal prices and firmer overseas markets. By 11.59am, the broader all-share index had added 0,82% to 27 860,790 thanks to a 3,27% gain in the platinum-mining index.
South African stocks extended gains at midday on Friday, bolstered by strong gains among miners amid rampant commodity prices, while a healthy start in European markets added to the upbeat sentiment. But volumes remained thin as some players remained on the sidelines ahead of the United States December non-farms payrolls data due out later in the day.
South African stocks remained weak at noon on Thursday in line with overseas markets, but a rally among miners helped soften the blows as gold continues to lead the commodities stampede. By noon on the JSE, the all-share index was 0,82%, or 239,2 points, weaker at 29 050,940, after dipping more than 350 points just after the opening.
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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/ 11 December 2007
Salaries for workers in the South African formal non-agricultural sectors accelerated to 7,5% year-on-year (y/y) in the second quarter of 2007 from 4,9% in the first quarter of the year, the South African Reserve Bank’s (SARB) <i>Quarterly Bulletin</i> showed on Tuesday.
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/ 5 December 2007
The JSE remained firm at noon on Wednesday in line with overseas markets, while ongoing mergers and acquisitions talk and higher commodity prices boosted miners. But investors remained jittery ahead of the local central bank’s interest rate decision on Thursday afternoon.
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/ 19 November 2007
The JSE was weaker at midday on Monday, erasing earlier gains following a similar trend in European markets on early indications that Wall Street was likely to open lower. At noon, the all-share index was down 0,69%. Resources fell 1,75% while the gold- and platinum-mining indices gave up 0,46% and 1,81% respectively.
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/ 7 November 2007
The JSE was a touch higher at midday on Wednesday, lifted by miners on soaring metal prices, but weaker overseas markets and the stronger rand dampened the overall mood. At noon, the all-share index was up just 0,12% higher, thanks to a 2,31% and 1,70% gains by the gold and platinum mining indices.
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/ 6 November 2007
The JSE retained its strong tone at noon on Tuesday as investors continued to hunt for bargains after sharp losses in recent days, while rallying gold and platinum prices provided additional support. At 12.04pm, the all-share index was up 0,62% thanks to a 2,02% gain in the gold mining index.
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/ 5 November 2007
The JSE remained weak at midday on Monday, in line with overseas markets as the troubled US subprime housing market continues to unsettle investors worldwide. At noon, the JSE’s all-share index was off 0,96%, resources fell 1.70%, the platinum mining index weakened 1,74%, but the gold mining index added 0,98% as the gold price stayed above $800/oz.
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/ 2 November 2007
The JSE recouped some of its earlier losses, but remained lower at midday on Friday on hopes that United States jobs data due out later in the day would support a case for another rate cut in the US. The local bourse was down more than 340 points in early trade following similar drops overseas stemming from renewed US subprime housing-market concerns.
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/ 2 November 2007
South African vehicle sales fell by 5,9%, or 3 423 units, year-on-year in October to 54 387 units with the decline driven by the passenger-car market, new data showed on Friday. Sales data showed that aggregate sales for the first ten months of the year were 3,5% lower than the same time last year.
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/ 31 October 2007
The JSE was lower at noon on Wednesday on pockets of profit taking amid caution ahead of the United States interest rate decision later in the day. At noon, the all-share index was off 0,49%. Resources fell 0,96%, the platinum mining index gave up 0,11% but the gold mining index was up 1,70%.
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/ 30 October 2007
The JSE rose modestly at noon on Tuesday as investors became more optimistic that the United States Federal Reserve would cut interest rates, which would bolster Wall Street. Investors cheered the news that Tokyo Sexwale’s Mevelaphanda group plans to buy up to 30% of Johncom’s to-be-formed Opco.
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/ 23 October 2007
The JSE remained firm at noon on Tuesday, spurred by Wall Street’s overnight rebound and firmer European markets as risk aversion eased. Miners lifted the main index, buoyed by a recovery in commodities prices as metals investors chased after bargains following Monday’s sharp losses, while a slight weakness in the dollar added to the upbeat mood in the metals complex.
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/ 22 October 2007
The JSE retained its weak tone at noon on Monday, in line with overseas markets amid renewed concerns about the health of the United States economy. At 11.56am, the all-share index was off 1,51%. Resources fell 2,48%, while the gold-mining and platinum-mining indices gave up 1% and 3,47% respectively.
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/ 22 October 2007
The JSE dropped sharply in early trade on Monday, led south by Asian markets and early signs that European markets are tipped to slide amid renewed concerns about the United States housing turmoil. At 9.17am, the all-share index was off 1,44%. Resources fell 1,74%.
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/ 19 October 2007
The JSE rose modestly at midday on Friday, helped by miners amid soaring metal prices with investors unfazed by talks that Wall Street was poised to open lower. At noon, the all-share index was up 0,61%. Resources gained 1,09% and the gold-mining and platinum-mining indices were up 1,14% and 0,81% respectively.
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/ 15 October 2007
More than 220 managers will have left South African Airways (SAA) by the end of the month as part of the national airline’s restructuring strategy, its spokesperson said on Monday. "SAA has approached the issue of labour in a phased manner, starting with management," said Robyn Chalmers, spokesperson for SAA.
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/ 18 September 2007
South African tobacco farmers should plant more in the coming season to benefit from soaring cigarette prices and fulfil expected orders from China. Louis Smit, CEO of agribusiness group Afgri’s producer services division, said farmers could increase the size of their crop from 12-million kilograms to at least 20-million kilograms.
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/ 13 September 2007
Growth in employment in South Africa accelerated noticeably over the past eight quarters after a prolonged period of marginal employment gains, the South African Reserve Bank said. The central bank said that improved employment prospects since early 2005 have been evident in both the public and private sector.
The JSE retained its strong tone at noon on Monday, riding on the back of calmer overseas markets — but traders refrained from pushing too high ahead of Wall Street opening. At 12.01pm, the all-share index was up 1,59%. Resources gained 1,87% and the gold- and platinum-mining indices climbed 2,05% and 2,45% respectively.
The Competition Tribunal, which blocked Telkom’s plans to buy IT group Business Connexion (BCX) in June, found that the two companies were already implementing a merger without its approval, it said on Monday. The tribunal said the deal would have resulted in Telkom thwarting competition in the managed network service sector.