JSE keeps positive bias at noon

Independent Newspapers

The JSE. Photo: Simphiwe Mbokazi.

The JSE kept a positive bias at noon on Wednesday with money flowing into gold shares on central bank stimulus hopes‚ while the platinum sector continued to feel the pressure.

Anglo American Platinum (AMS) has shed over 10% since issuing a profit warning on Monday.

Trading volume was expected to be fairly light with the US markets closed for a public holiday.

At 12:20 local time‚ the JSE all-share index was up 0.26% to 34‚074.64 points‚ with resources nudging up 0.38%‚ gold shares lifting 1.11% but platinum counters losing 0.84%.

Financials lost 0.31%‚ banking stocks were 0.56% in the red‚ while industrials firmed 0.45%.

The rand weakened to 8.13 to the US dollar‚ from 8.08 at the JSE’s close on Tuesday‚ while gold exchanged hands at US$1‚615.79 a troy ounce from US$1‚618.60/oz at the JSE’s previous close and platinum was quoted at $1‚478.50/oz‚ from $1‚476.50/oz previously.

“The Barclays inter-bank lending debacle is weighing on banking and financial stocks. The fear is that this incident could trigger tighter regulations‚” said Rob Towell‚ senior equities trader at Consilium Securities.

Europe share markets remained weaker‚ with London’s FTSE 100 index down 0.21% about noon SA time.

Eurozone data offered little inspiration‚ but again fuelled expectations of central bank action this week - a move that would ultimately boost risk assets such as equities and commodities‚ Dow Jones Newswires reported.

The purchasing managers' index for the manufacturing and services sectors edged up a touch to 46.4 in June from 46.0 in May‚ though it was still below the key 50-mark.

In Asia‚ stocks were mixed with Japan’s Nikkei average ending the session 0.41% higher while the Hang Seng index lost 0.13% by the close.

On the JSE‚ Anglo American (AGL) gained R1.08 to R274.15‚ BHP Billiton (BIL) was up R1.90 to R238.52‚ while Sasol (SOL) lost R1.75 to R345.50.

AngloGold Ashanti (ANG) was up R5.03‚ or 1.82%‚ to R281‚ Gold Fields (GFI) gained 27 cents to R102.30 and Harmony Gold Mining (HAR) lifted 61 cents to R76.10.

In platinum stocks‚ Anglo American Platinum (AMS) slid R9.84‚ or 2.22%‚to R433 and Aquarius Platinum (AQP) lost 20 cents‚ or 3.13%‚ to R6.20. The platinum producer said in its operational update earlier that material surpluses of platinum group metals‚ and of platinum in particular‚ were likely to persist in the short to medium term.

As a result‚ platinum group metal prices were likely to remain stagnant‚ while operating costs were expected to continue to rise at historical rates.

Among other miners‚ Kumba Iron Ore (KIO) garnered R8.05‚ or 1.46%‚ to R561.

In industrials‚ Barloworld (BAW) rose R2.70‚ or 3.36%‚ to R83.10 amid some bargain hunting.

Among banks‚ Nedbank (NED) was down R1.40 to R173.60 and Absa (ASA) lost R2.16‚ or 1.57%‚ to R135.84. - I-Net Bridge