JSE higher, AngloGold in focus

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton.

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange in Sandton.

Published May 9, 2017

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Johannesburg - Stocks were slightly higher on Monday, with AngloGold Ashanti in focus after the bullion miner reported a 16 percent drop in quarterly profit.

The blue chip JSE Top40 index was up 0.14 percent at 47076.82 points, while the broader all share index gained 0.22 percent to 53696.37 points.

AngloGold Ashanti reported a 16 percent fall in quarterly core profit, or earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, weighed down by lower production and higher costs at its domestic mines. In reaction, shares in Africa’s biggest gold producer dropped 1.86 percent to close at R147.70.

Royal Bafokeng Platinum lost 5.81 percent to R32.25 and ArcelorMittal fell 4.55 percent to R7.35.

On the flipside, MTN sparkled, rising 1.95 percent to R118.77, after the mobile phone operator said it had reached a non-binding agreement to invest more than $295 million (about R3.95 billion) in fixed-line broadband firm Iranian Net.

Meanwhile, stocks dipped yesterday from highs touched after pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron’s emphatic and expected victory in France’s presidential election as investors cashed in recent gains.

European equities dipped, with French shares under-performing the wider market after having hit their highest in more than nine years on Friday.

REUTERS

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